Two-time grade 3 winner and grade 1-placed New York-bred Mo Plex has been retired from racing following a training injury, trainer Jeremiah Englehart told BloodHorse Oct. 18.
Englehart said the bay colt sustained a right-hind sesamoid injury during a gallop over the Oklahoma Training Track at Saratoga Race Course Oct. 16. Although the injury is not considered to be serious, the time off it would require made owner R and H Stable and Englehart determine it was best to retire the 3-year-old Complexity colt and point for a stud career.
"At this point, he doesn't have anything more to do for us," Englehart said. "A horse like that has been a lot of fun, not only for Rick (Higgins) and Howard (Reed) and R and H Stable, but also everything he's done for (Englehart's) JCE Racing and Legion Bloodstock."
Bred in New York by Everything's Cricket Racing, Mo Plex was purchased for $45,000 from Hoppel's consignment at the 2024 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training by JCE Racing through Legion Bloodstock.
He showed plenty of early promise at 2, winning on debut at Aqueduct Racetrack by 10 lengths against New York-breds before taking the Sanford Stakes (G3) and Funny Cide Stakes at Saratoga. He closed out the season picking up grade 1 placing in the Champagne Stakes (G1) and finishing runner-up in the Sleepy Hollow Stakes, both at Aqueduct.
After starting his 3-year-old season with a third in the New York-bred Gander Stakes, Mo Plex successfully jumped back into open company by winning the Bay Shore Stakes. Then, in his first start around two turns and out of New York, he convincingly scored in the Ohio Derby (G3) at Thistledown by 2 lengths. His last two starts in the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) and Pennsylvania Derby (G1) came against the top sophomores in the country.
Mo Plex retired with a record of 5-1-2 from 10 starts, earning $790,000.
"I never trained a horse that was like him," Englehart said. "He absolutely loves it, he loves to race. He's been a professional since day one. He's just a horse that never seemed like he wanted a day off, he absolutely loved what he was doing."
Englehart said they have already received calls inquiring about standing Mo Plex at stud, and he hopes the work ethic the colt exhibited on the track every day will pass along to his offspring.
"If I had mares, I'd be breeding mares to him just because of his outlook on the game," Englehart said. "He enjoyed competition, he's a really good-looking colt, and has been sound, probably the soundest horse I've had in training the last two years."
Looking back at Mo Plex's career, Englehart said his favorite moment was the victory in the Ohio Derby, which he shared with his son, Eli.
"Driving out there with my son, Eli, being able to share that moment with him was pretty special," Englehart said. "Going into work every day, everyone was just drawn to him. He had that personality. Always going to remember Rick and Howard and how great they were during the run. They're super people, and I'm glad they got to have this experience with him. Hopefully, there will be others."
