Mo Plex Stays Perfect With Gutsy Funny Cide Win
After breaking his maiden impressively facing New York-breds at Aqueduct June 20, Mo Plex jumped right into stakes company and took the GIII Sanford Stakes in gate to wire fashion on opening weekend at Saratoga July 13. Coming in with the clear class advantage as the sole stakes winner in the field, the even-money favorite, used to setting the tempo, was outrun from the outside gate by In the Chase (Weekend Hideaway) and had to settle for an outside stalking trip while fanned out wide. Not able to save much ground around the far turn, he was four wide passing the quarter pole with Soontobeking to catch. Put to a sustained drive down the center of the course, Mo Plex proved his class, just nailing that rival on the wire for the narrowest of wins to keep his perfect record in tact.
-Thoroughbred Daily News
August 25, 2024
TRICKY TEMPER ROLLS IN UNION AVENUE
Into Mischief’s Tricky Temper picked up her second career stakes win, and first of 2024 with a three-length victory in Friday’s $125,000 Union Avenue S. at Saratoga.
The 3-year-old filly scored in a Saratoga allowance just two weeks prior, and turned in another big effort in Friday’s six-furlong sprint. She was one of three fillies to have the lead in the first furlong before settling back off the pace. She waited patiently behind horse before starting her rally in upper stretch and rolled by Leeloo to win going away.
“In the mornings last year, I could never figure out what she was,” said trainer Jeremiah Englehart. “I didn’t know if she was turf. I ran her the first time and she won an off-the-turf dirt race, and I didn’t know, really. In the mornings, she never grabbed the bridle, she just did what we asked her to do. This year, she’ll try to run off because she is just enjoying herself. She is having fun when she goes out there.”
No Catching Complexity's Mo Plex in Sanford Stakes
Mo Plex became the newest poster boy for the lucrative New York-bred breeding program with his front-running score in the $175,000 Sanford Stakes (G3) July 13 at Saratoga Race Course.
Selected for a bargain price of $45,000 at this year's Ocala Breeders' Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, the juvenile surpassed all expectations when he dashed across the wire for his first graded score. The Sanford victory came only 23 days after Mo Plex had demolished his rivals by 10 lengths in a state-bred maiden special weight during the Belmont at the Big A meeting.
"I love the (New York-bred) program," said trainer Jeremiah Englehart. "This is where I call home all year long, and I concentrate and focus on buying New York-breds. Hopefully, we've got a few more we can unveil later in the meet and have some fun with. It's just a tremendous program, and they've shown they can run with anything."
- BLOODHORSE
July 13, 2024
Maple Leaf Mel dominates East View Stakes
August Dawn Farm’s undefeated Maple Leaf Mel returned victorious with a 7 3/4-length romp in Friday’s $100,000 East View for New York-bred sophomore fillies sprinting six furlongs at Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park, N.Y.
Maple Leaf Mel is now 3-for-3 and notched the second stakes win of her career, entering from a victory in the state-bred Seeking the Ante over a sloppy and sealed main track on August 26 at Saratoga Race Course. The daughter of Cross Traffic was an impressive five-length winner on debut going the East View distance on August 10 at the Spa.
Maple Leaf Mel Shines for Parcells on Day for NY-Breds
It may not have been the Rose Bowl after he notched the first of two Super Bowl wins as coach of the New York Giants.
Yet for Bill Parcells, who recently turned 81, there was no better place to spend the early afternoon of Aug. 26 than Saratoga Race Course, watching his 2-year-old New York-bred filly Maple Leaf Mel become a stakes winner.
"This is the best," the Pro Football Hall of Famer said. "It's nice to be my age and have something that can get you as excited about as this."
-BLOODHORSE
August 26, 2022