Newly launched New York stallion operation Mountain View Farm has added grade 1-placed, multiple graded stakes winner Mo Plex to its roster.
The 4-year-old New York-bred son of grade 1 winner Complexity sustained a right-hind sesamoid injury in October during a gallop at the Oklahoma Training Track at Saratoga Race Course. While the injury was not considered serious, the time off for recovery and the timing of the injury led owners Rick Higgins and Howard Reed, of R and H Stable, to consider his next career as a stallion.
"At this point, he doesn't have anything more to do for us," said trainer Jeremiah Englehart when the colt's retirement had been announced. "A horse like that has been a lot of fun, not only for Rick and Howard and R and H Stable, but also everything he's done for (Englehart's) JCE Racing and Legion Bloodstock."
Mountain View is an expansion of the Willow Brook Stables operation owned by owner/trainer David and Carolyn Cannizzo. The new full-service farm is at the former site of Jeffrey Tucker's breeding business called Stone Bridge Farm. The Cannizzos already have a relationship with Englehart through handling rehabilitations and lay-ups, so they helped put a syndication together and will launch Mo Plex's stallion career.
"It makes a lot of sense for him to stand in New York," Cannizzo said. "He is a fancy New York-bred and his performances are known by the breeders here. A lot of people involved in him run in New York year-round and with the state's stallion awards and the breeders' awards this is the right place for him to try to make it."
Mo Plex was bred by Everythings Cricket Racing out of the Uncle Mo daughter Mo Joy, who is a half sister to stakes-placed winner Little Daddy (Scat Daddy). His immediate family produced 1997 Florida Oaks (G3) winner Anklet, who also ran second in the Ashland Stakes (G1), and grade 1 winner Grecian Flight.
After winning his racing debut at Aqueduct Racetrack by 10 lengths, Mo Plex racked up consecutive wins in the 2024 Sanford Stakes (G3) and Funny Cide Stakes at Saratoga. He then ran third in the Champagne Stakes (G1) and second in the Sleepy Hollow Stakes. At 3, he won the Bay Shore Stakes before capturing the Ohio Derby (G3) by 2 lengths. He retired with a 5-1-2 record from 10 starts and earned $790,000.
"He was a very fast, very precocious 2-year-old and able to maintain his speed over longer distances," Cannizzo said. "When you have a horse with that kind of speed who saw success early in his career, that is what makes stallions. If he can transfer that to his foals, than you are headed in the right direction from the jump."
Cannizzo described Mo Plex has having perfect conformation, an athletic build, and a nice hip and shoulder.
"He is not a big, heavy horse, just very athletic with a great walk and demeanor," he said.
Because it is relatively late for a stallion to enter stud for breeding season, Mountain View has priced him at $2,500.
"We put him at a price that is fair for New York and breeders outside the state," Cannizzo said. "The people involved in the syndicate all breed and race in New York, so internally, he will start out with a good group of mares. He's got good support."
