Complexity dashes to early lead among 2024 first-crop sires

The TwinSpires.com first-crop sires series is back for 2024! We kick off this season's coverage with the early leader in the standings, Complexity. Stay tuned for more stories on freshman stallions with exciting two-year-olds!

As a hotshot debut winner at Saratoga and hero of the 2018 Champagne (G1), Complexity had the right profile to make a splash with his first-crop two-year-olds. Yet the Airdrie stallion has gotten off to an even faster start than might have been expected.

Not only has Complexity zoomed to the top of the freshman sires’ list, but he also ranks as North America’s overall leading sire of two-year-olds, with progeny earnings in excess of $705,000 so far. He also boasts the most winners as of July 22; 12 of his 18 starters have won. 

Complexity’s nearest rival in the standings, Vekoma, has 11 winners from a higher number of starters (26).

Complexity’s quantity includes quality as well, led by Sanford (G3) winner Mo Plex and Victoria S. romper Mensa. His filly French Horn placed third in the Astoria S., and if not for trouble at the gate, the well-backed Complexion might have fared better than seventh in the Schuylerville S. 

Let’s take a look at Complexity’s background before diving into his promising juveniles.

Complexity’s pedigree and sales history

Trained by Chad Brown for Klaravich Stables, Complexity was a $375,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase. The Stonestreet-bred is by Maclean’s Music, a brilliant winner in his only career start. Himself a son of the influential Distorted Humor, from the male line of Mr. Prospector, Maclean’s Music is best known for siring champion sprinter Jackie’s Warrior. But Maclean’s Music also sired Cloud Computing, who won the 2017 Preakness (G1) for Brown and Klaravich just a few months before they acquired Complexity.

Complexity’s dam, Goldfield, is an unraced daughter of millionaire sprinter Yes It’s True. Complexity is therefore a half-brother to Valadorna, the runner-up in the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) who earned her signature win in the 2018 Doubledogdare (G3). Valadorna has produced Tuscan Gold, a current Brown trainee who finished third in the March 23 Louisiana Derby (G2) and fourth in the Preakness.

Complexity’s racing career

Complexity was unveiled on Labor Day at the Spa in 2018, the traditional closing-day card, and the word was out on the well-regarded youngster. Flashing high speed, the 4-5 favorite romped by 4 1/4 lengths. The clock confirmed his merit as he reeled off six furlongs in 1:09.78 and promptly garnered the “Rising Star” badge from Thoroughbred Daily News.

Next came the one-mile Champagne at Belmont Park, where Complexity readily handled the step up in class and distance. The speedy colt took charge from the start and held sway by three lengths from Code of Honor, the eventual Travers (G1) winner and Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up. Another future celebrity in that Champagne was Casa Creed, only seventh behind Complexity, before he found his true home on turf.

In his postrace quotes, Brown hailed Complexity’s raw ability:

“He’s just so strong, an outstanding talent. He’s just a rare horse.”

Given Complexity’s pedigree and running style, however, the stretch out to two turns in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) posed a sterner challenge. Complexity proved unable to carry his speed around 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs and tired to 10th behind champion Game Winner.

After an abbreviated, three-race sophomore season, Complexity enhanced his graded resume as a four-year-old in 2020. He renewed his affinity with Belmont’s one-turn mile by adding the Kelso (G2), beating old rival Code of Honor and defeating Win Win Win in an allowance. Win Win Win exacted revenge in the seven-furlong Forego (G1) back at Saratoga, just catching Complexity late. Complexity wasn’t as effective in the two-turn Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Keeneland, but he finished a respectable fourth – not beaten much for second – behind track record-setting Knicks Go.

Complexity retired with a record of 10-5-1-0 and $616,350 in earnings. Since entering stud at Airdrie near Midway, Kentucky, he has been standing for $12,500. The eight-year-old stallion is likely to command more by the 2025 breeding season. 

Mo Plex, Tough Catch win at Saratoga 

Complexity’s headliner at this stage is the aforementioned Sanford hero, Mo Plex, who is now 2-for-2. Trained by Jeremiah Englehart, the $45,000 OBS April juvenile crushed fellow New York-breds by 10 lengths in his June 20 debut at Aqueduct.

Mo Plex was the 1.15-1 favorite that day, and he also attracted support as the 1.85-1 second choice in the Sanford. The bay went straight to the lead at the Spa and maintained a one-length margin at the wire, staving off closing favorite Studlydoright while finishing six furlongs in 1:11.72. It must be noted, though, that the race dynamic would have been different if morning line favorite Mentee hadn’t scratched.

Out of the Uncle Mo mare Mo Joy, Mo Plex could raise his sights for the Sept. 2 Hopeful (G1), but Englehart is reportedly considering reverting to state-bred company for the Aug. 25 Funny Cide S. 

“I actually always thought he’d go a little further,” Englehart told NYRA publicity. “I was surprised he had as much speed as he did, and they gained on him a little bit late (in the Sanford). Hopefully, he comes out of this race well and maybe we look toward the end of the meet.”

Regardless of Mo Plex’s intentions, Complexity is expected to have a Hopeful contender in Tough Catch, who impressed in his premiere on the Sanford undercard July 13. Indeed, Tough Catch recorded a better Brisnet Speed rating (90) in his 5 1/2-furlong maiden than Mo Plex did in the Sanford (86).

Breaking from the rail as a 6.50-1 chance, the Dallas Stewart juvenile ripped through fractions of :21.75 and :45. His three-length lead ebbed to three-quarters of a length at the wire, as the once-raced Innovator kept chasing, but Tough Catch clocked a final time of 1:04.63.

As a May 2 foal, Tough Catch has a license to improve with time. The $280,000 OBS April juvenile comes from a fine family. His dam, Try to Catch Her, sports a thoroughly Pin Oak Stud pedigree as a daughter of Broken Vow and Canadian Grade 1 vixen See How She Runs.

TDN Rising Star Complexion, Hollygrove are fillies to watch 

Another well-related Complexity two-year-old, Complexion, emulated her sire by earning TDN “Rising Star” honors. A $400,000 Keeneland September yearling, Complexion is a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 star Jack Christopher. Their dam, Rushin No Blushin, is herself a half-sister (by Half Ours) to multiple Grade 1-winning sprinter and noted sire Street Boss. 

Complexion ran right up to those bloodlines with a 6 1/2-length debut jaunt at Aqueduct June 14. Bet down to a 13-10 favorite, the Danny Gargan filly took command early and drew off in :58.20 for five furlongs.

If Complexion had run back to that performance in the Schuylerville, she would have been competitive. But the 2.65-1 second choice lost her race in the starting gate, acting up so anxiously that Gargan was reportedly upset about how the stalls handlers dealt with the situation. In the circumstances, Complexion wasn’t able to do herself justice when winding up seventh. Watch for her to rebound in a better frame of mind. 

At Churchill Downs on May 24, Hollygrove stamped herself as one to follow by sweeping from just off the pace to win decisively by 2 1/4 lengths. The $65,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling went off at a generous 5.37-1, understandable in light of trainer Whit Beckman’s patience in developing youngsters. But Hollygrove was further along than the market guessed, polishing off five furlongs in :58.20.

Hollygrove represents Legion Racing, who famously sourced Beckman’s 2024 Kentucky Derby competitor Honor Marie. Might she similarly progress through the ranks and acquire new ownership along the way? Hollygrove could stretch out, since her dam, Moon and Stars, is by 2013 Derby winner Orb.

Mensa, Black Forza illustrate Complexity’s surface versatility

Complexity is already demonstrating versatility by siring winners on synthetic and turf, surfaces that he didn’t attempt himself.

Mensa became his sire’s second stakes winner with a dominating, wire-to-wire display in the July 19 Victoria S. over Woodbine’s Tapeta. 

The Mark Casse pupil was snared by John Stewart’s big-spending Resolute Racing for $740,000, then a record for Fasig-Tipton’s digital platform, in the wake of his sharp three-length debut score April 12 on the Gulfstream Park dirt. Mensa notched a gaudy 97 Speed rating while wiring the 4 1/2-furlong maiden in :51.86, handing Complexity his first overall winner. Interestingly, that same maiden initially attracted Gabaldon, who scratched. Gabaldon went on to graduate in the Royal Palm Juvenile and just missed in the Windsor Castle S. at Royal Ascot. 

Mensa did not immediately validate his purchase price next time, when tiring to sixth in a pace meltdown in the May 2 Kentucky Juvenile. But he was back in business on the venue change to Woodbine. 

Gliding to the front in the Victoria, the 1.65-1 second choice widened his advantage to 7 1/4 lengths over slightly favored stablemate Into Diamonds. Mensa negotiated 5 1/2 furlongs, on the bridle, in 1:04.60. He won so easily that track announcer Robert Geller exclaimed, “This is a track gallop!”

Casse’s stakes-placed French Horn made the opposite surface switch, from Tapeta to dirt. The Ontario-bred readily justified 1.10-1 favoritism in her Woodbine unveiling, dusting males in a 4 1/2-furlong dash.  Next seen in the June 6 Astoria S. at the Spa, French Horn was third at every call. She has yet to work back, but still has upside. The $65,000 Keeneland September yearling is a daughter of Grade 1 heroine Emma’s Encore, by Congrats.

The Complexity filly Ambitious Lass likewise won on the Woodbine Tapeta June 29, in her second try for Anthony Pottinger. Improving from a third in her maiden special weight debut over five furlongs, she appreciated getting a sixth furlong and led throughout in a final time of 1:10.93. 

Ambitious Lass was then pitched into the July 13 My Dear S. at 5 1/2 furlongs. Although outpaced early, she outperformed her nearly 31-1 odds by rallying for a useful fourth. 

Off that evidence, the $8,000 bargain basement buy at Wanamaker’s Online Sale in February can achieve a black-type placing. Kentucky-bred Ambitious Lass is out of the Bodemeister mare Auspicious Babe, from the immediate family of Grade 1-winning sprinter Malibu Mint. 

Complexity’s reach has extended to Europe, as Black Forza scored a good-looking win at Fairyhouse July 10. The Kentucky-bred found his way to Ireland via the Goffs UK Breeze Up Sale at Doncaster in April, when trainer Michael O’Callaghan purchased him for about $274,000. 

After an educational fifth in a hot maiden at the Curragh, Black Forza moved forward next time at Fairyhouse. The cutback from seven to six furlongs likely helped, as the 6-1 chance forged 1 1/4 lengths clear of favored Rudi’s Apple. His form was boosted back at the Curragh on Saturday; Rudi’s Apple was much the best in a nursery on Irish Oaks Day, defeating a re-opposing rival from the same Fairyhouse maiden.

Black Forza was entered in the Anglesey (G3) on Sunday, but scratched. That smacked of a look-and-see anyway, since O’Callaghan had previously indicated that the Aug. 1 Richmond (G2) at Glorious Goodwood was his target.

Round-up of other winners

Steve Asmussen dropped Swiftwind into a $100,000 maiden claimer after she trailed in a Churchill maiden special weight, and she responded to win as the 1.46-1 favorite. Attempting black-type in the July 5 Prairie Gold Lassie S. did not go as well, resulting in an even fifth. Asmussen followed the same pattern with Complex Music, who won on the class drop for a $100,000 tag at Churchill and checked in last of six in the Prairie Gold Juvenile.

Libitina likewise appreciated the drop from a Gulfstream maiden special weight to the $40,000 maiden claiming level July 11 at Colonial Downs, where she romped by six lengths for Carlos Munoz.

The John Ennis-trained Sweet Mo B, who graduated for a $40,000 tag at Churchill June 26, will need class relief again after finishing sixth in an Ellis Park allowance on Monday.