Mo Plex and Irad Ortiz Jr. cruise to the finish in Saturday’s Grade 3 Sanford at Saratoga. NYRA Photo.

By Tom Law

Jeremiah Englehart gave owners Rick Higgins and Howard Read a bit of a warning after Mo Plex blasted to a 10-length victory last month during the Belmont at the Big A meeting, giving the New Yorkers reason to dream big about the biggest meet of the year in their backyard.

“This isn’t how it always happens with 2-year-olds when we buy them,” Englehart told the longtime friends, who race as R and H Stable.

Englehart might need to double down next time he puts the tack on Mo Plex, after the son of Complexity ran his record to 2-for-2 in Saturday’s co-featured Grade 3 Sanford Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.

“That was awesome,” Reed, who lives in the Albany area, said after posing with Higgins and Englehart before heading to celebrate the latest graded stakes victory for a product of the New York-bred program.

“We liked his chances, even though not a single prominent handicapper picked him on top,” said Higgins, who lives on Union Avenue in Saratoga just down the road from the racetrack.

Mo Plex’s owners, Englehart and gamblers that packed Saratoga on a steamy afternoon Saturday liked the colt’s chances a lot more after morning-line favorite Mentee came out of the race in the morning with a temperature. Mo Plex went off as the 9-5 second choice behind Studlydoright, down significantly from his 6-1 morning-line price from the outside post in the reduced field of seven.

Irad Ortiz Jr. put Mo Plex on the lead from the break, clicking off strong fractions of :22.51 and :45.92 into the backstretch and around the far turn.

In control throughout, Mo Plex turned for home up by more than a length and extended his advantage to 1 1/2 lengths over the tiring chaser Mr. Squeaky Wheels through 5 furlongs in :58.26. Mo Plex wasn’t seriously threatened from there and finished a length clear of Tremont Stakes winner Studlydoright at the finish in 1:11.72. Three Echos rallied for third.

Bred by Avi and Rhoda Freedberg’s Everything’s Cricket Racing, Mo Plex is the first foal out of the unraced Uncle Mo mare Mo Joy.

A $27,000 RNA at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale, Mo Plex was purchased by Englehart’s JCE Racing for $45,000 at the OBS April sale of 2-year-olds in training. Englehart added R and H Stable to his client list late last year and is thrilled to bring the New Yorkers to his predominantly New York-bred stable bedded down in the Oklahoma Annex at Saratoga for the spring, summer and fall.

Englehart, a longtime player in the state who lives in Schuylerville and has turned much of his attention more to New York-breds in recent years, credited the program.

“This is where I call home all year long, and I concentrate and focus on buying New York-breds,” Englehart said. “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. To me, it’s fantastic and it’s almost like job security when you’re able to have New York-breds. I’m blessed.”

Silver Skillet returns to the grass and lands another stakes victory in Sunday’s Port Washington at Aqueduct. Susie Raisher/NYRA Photo.

Christophe Clement met Joel Rosario in the Aqueduct paddock before Sunday’s $116,250 Port Washington Stakes and offered one bit of advice for the latter’s ride on odds-on favorite in the New York-bred turf stakes.

“Just be comfortable, she’s doing well,” Clement said.

A few minutes later Rosario put Silver Skillet on the lead against her three foes in the 1 1/16-mile Port Washington, didn’t fight the daughter of Liam’s Map when she appeared headstrong early and let her settle around the first turn and into the backstretch. Silver Skillet responded and dominated the field en route to a 7-length victory.

“She broke a little slow, and got going with a little bit of speed, but I was able to slow it down on the backside a little bit and she did the work,” Rosario said. “Very nice. She’s really talented and sometimes she likes to do her own thing. She’s just a racehorse.”

Silver Skillet, who won in 1:43.33, added the Port Washington on closing day of the Belmont at the Big A meeting to her victory last month in the off-the-turf Mount Vernon Stakes during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course. She’s won five times in 14 starts with three seconds and two thirds for Clement and owners Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Tango Uniform Racing and Steven Rocco. The $68,750 winner’s piece of the Port Washington boosted Silver Skillet’s bankroll to $440,240.

“It’s always nice to win, especially when you train for your friends,” Clement said.

Bred by Robert Chasanoff and foaled at Blue Chip Farms in Wallkill, Silver Skillet earned champion New York-bred turf female honors last year after winning twice and finishing second three times in seven starts. She won an allowance and Suzie O’Cain Stakes at Saratoga and placed in a pair of stakes downstate.

Silver Skillet made her third start of 2024 in the Port Washington, after opening the year with a fourth in an open allowance April 25 at Aqueduct and the Mount Vernon June 9.

Facing just three following the scratches of Whatlovelookslike and main track only runners Bustin Bay and Bon Adieu, Silver Skillet went to post as the 1-2 favorite and backed up the support.

Silver Skillet clicked off splits of :23.22, :49.04 and 1:13.10 before withstanding a mild challenge from 12-1 longshot Lisa’s Vision around the far turn. Silver Skilled spurted clear in the stretch and drew off from there. Lisa’s Vision held second, 2 lengths ahead of 9-5 second choice Marvelous Maude with Snowy Evening fourth.

Joseph Migliore, agent, purchased Silver Skillet for $260,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale. She’s the second foal out of the stakes-winning Red Giant mare Catcha Rising Star. Chasanoff purchased Catcha Rising Star, winner of the 2016 West Virginia Senate President’s Cup Stakes and the earner of $235,050, for $85,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November breeding stock sale.

Catcha Rising Star produced her first foal, the New York-bred Congrats filly Gianduia, in 2019. Silver Skillet came next and Catcha Rising Star was sold in foal to New York-based stallion Honest Mischief to Thorndale Farm for $53,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga fall mixed sale.

Catcha Rising Star’s 2023 filly by Honest Mischief, named Ineedapop and bred by Eaton & Thorne Inc., was purchased by The Elkstone Group for $35,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale.

Spirit of St Louis racks up fifth straight victory in Sunday’s Hudson Valley at Aqueduct. NYRA Photo.

Spirit of St Louis extended his win streak to five with a powerful victory in Sunday’s $121,250 Hudson Valley Stakes on closing day of the Belmont at the Big A meeting.

Under the meet’s leading jockey Manny Franco, the 5-year-old Medaglia d’Oro gelding won the 1-mile turf stakes by 3 lengths over the late-running Dakota Gold. Owned by Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb and Richard Schermerhorn and trained by Chad Brown, Spirit of St Louis won in 1:35.83 over the firm turf.

“He is just a winning machine,” Franco said. “He likes to run, and every time he gives you 110 percent. I’m just happy to be on him right now and to get the ‘W’ once again. He had a nice turn of foot, and every time you ask him for something, he’s there. When you ask him for all, he gives you a nice kick. I think that has made him special.”

A full brother to New York-bred Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner Bar of Gold, Spirit of St Louis improved to 8-for-10 with two seconds and pushed his bankroll to $590,650.

Spirit of St Louis’ win streak has come exclusively in stakes company dating back to last year when he won the Ashley T. Cole and Mohawk Stakes, both during the Belmont at the Big A fall meeting. Spirit of St Louis made a successful venture into open company two starts back when he won the April 20 Danger’s Hour Stakes at Aqueduct, a victory the preceded his score in the off-the-turf Kingston Stakes during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course.

Hammered down to 1-2 in the field of five, Spirit of St Louis and Franco set up shop just behind 13-1 outsider Itsallcomintogetha early and around the first turn. Itsallcomintogetha led through the opening quarter-mile in :24.17. Spirit of St Louis inched up to challenge for the lead, along with Jerry the Nipper entering the backstretch before Itsallcomintogetha opened up again by about a length through the half in :47.82.

Spirit of St Louis continued to advance around the far turn, challenged for the lead through 6 furlongs in 1:11.51 and took over turning for home. Spirit of St Louis lengthened his advantage through the lane and won going away. Dakota Gold rallied to finish second, just ahead of Itsallcomintogetha and City Man.

Bred by Chester and Mary Broman and foaled at their Chestertown Farm in Chestertown, Spirit of St Louis is out of the Grade 3-winning New York-bred Lemon Drop Kid mare Khancord Kid. Bar of Gold, New York-bred champion female sprinter and older dirt female in 2017, won seven of 25 starts and earned $1,551,000 for the Bromans.

Khancord Kid is also the dam of the stakes-placed New York-bred duo Land Mine and Homeland among five winners from five foals to race, including the two-time winning New York-bred 4-year-old Justify filly Im Just Kiddin. Khancord Kid is also the dam of the 2-year-old New York-bred Uncle Mo filly Starship Pegasus who sold for $200,000 at the OBS March sale.

A second-generation Broman-bred, Spirit of St Louis sold for $300,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September yearling sale. He made his first two starts for owner Peter Brant and trainer Chad Brown – winning that maiden and finishing second in a 9-furlong allowance – before being sold for $280,000 at this year’s Keeneland April horses of all ages sale.

Brown hinted before the Hudson Valley that Spirit of St Louis could venture back to open company, perhaps even in graded stakes, down the road. Franco said the gelding would be ready.

“He did it [open company] once already and I think it doesn’t matter,” Franco said. “\Right now, he’s doing great, and he’s in the best hands with Chad Brown.”

Wynstock fends off stablemate Cornell late to win the $100,000 Los Alamitos Derby Saturday at Los Alamitos Race Course. Benoit Photo.

Turns out Wynstock didn’t need the lead to win.

Southern California-based Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said that in the local press before Wynstock ran in Saturday’s $100,000 Los Alamitos Derby. Then the 3-year-old son of Solomini proved him wrong, yielding the early lead to runoff leader Tapalo before picking up the pieces in the stretch under Kyle Frey to win the 9-furlong feature at Los Alamitos Race Course.

Owned by Dr. Ed Allred and Jack Liebau, Wynstock ended a three-race losing streak and added the Los Alamitos Derby to his victory in last year’s Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity. The Futurity and a flashy maiden score at Santa Anita Park helped Wynstock earn consideration for New York-bred champion 2-year-old male honors in 2023.

Wynstock came into Saturday with three off-the-board efforts in stakes – the Grade 3 Southwest at Oaklawn Park in early February, Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in early April and the Desert Code sprinting on the grass at Santa Anita in mid-May.

Back on the dirt and under Kyle Frey, Wynstock vied for the lead early before yielding to fellow New York-bred Tapalo past the finish the first time. Odds-on favorite Tapalo, a 7-length winner of the Lazaro Barrera going 7 furlongs last time out, zipped through strong early fractions of :23.42, :46.20 and 1:09.63 while building a sizable lead.

Tapalo still led as the field turned for home and in midstretch but the early splits took their toll. Cornell, Baffert’s other runner in the five-horse field and the 3-1 second choice, cut into Tapalo’s lead with every stride in the lane. Wynstock also made up ground through the lane while racing down inside. The 4-1 third choice looked clear until the final strides when Cornell re-rallied before coming up just short. Wynstock won by a nose in 1:50.51. Cornell finished 5 lengths clear of Curlin’s Kaos, who nosed out Tapalo for third.

“I just let him settle early,” Frey said. “I was hoping he would have something for the stretch because he ran so well here in December when he won the Futurity. I stayed inside because I didn’t want to break his momentum.”

Wynstock, who won over the fast track in 1:50.51, improved to 3-for-8 in his career and boosted his bankroll to $243,740. He also gave Baffert his ninth victory in 11 runnings of the Los Alamitos Derby.

Co-owner Dr. Ed Allred and winning trainer Bob Baffert talk with jockey Kyle Frey after they teamed to win the Los Alamitos Derby. Benoit Photo.

“I thought Wynstock’s only chance was to be on the lead, but he runs well here because he likes a firmer surface,” Baffert said. “He could not make the lead, so (Frey) just grabbed him and (Tapalo) was out there by himself and I knew Cornell was going to make a run. Down the stretch, I thought Cornell was going to cut the corner, but he stayed outside and (Tapalo) was drifting him out and then I saw a horse flying on the inside and I thought, ‘Son of a gun,’ and then I realized ‘Oh, that’s my horse, he came back.’

“We know Wynstock has a lot of talent. It’s mental with him. I’m just happy we won and ran 1-2. It’s nice to come here and win this race, especially for Doc. I’m a big fan of his. It’s nice to hang with him and reminisce and tell old stories.’’

Bred by Empire Equines LLC, Wynstock was a $50,000 Keeneland September yearling sale purchase by Gerardo Barragan from Hidden Brook in 2022. He returned to the ring at this year’s OBS April sale and brought $700,000 from bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, agent for Allred and Liebau, out of the Caliente Thoroughbreds consignment.

Wynstock became the first graded stakes winner for McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds’ Solomini when he won the Los Alamitos Futurity. He’s one of four stakes winners for Solomini, who is also the sire of recent Mike Lee winner Doc Sullivan, Soloshot, winner of the Cupecoy’s Joy division of the New York Stallion Series Stakes; and My Shea D Lady, winner of the $500,000 Fifth Avenue division of the NYSS last year. Solomini, a Grade 1-placed son of Curlin out of the Storm Cat mare Surf Song, stands for $7,500.

Foaled at McMahon of Saratoga in Saratoga Springs, Wynstock is the first foal out of the placed Flatter mare Timberlea, who was purchased by McMahon and Hill Bloodstock for $10,500 at the 2020 Keeneland January horses of all ages sale before joining the New York program. She is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner and multiple Grade 2-placed Untrapped and out of a granddaughter of successful broodmare Yarn.

Yarn’s foals included champion Minardi and Grade 2 winner and successful sire Tale of the Cat with her daughters producing European and U.S. champion Johannesburg and the dam of Grade 1 winner Joking.

Empire Equines also bred Timberlea’s most recent New York-bred foals – a yearling filly by Mo Town and a full sister to Wynstock born March 26.