Neoequous goes dirt to turf for stakes win, Coglianese Photo
Gulfstream Park Press
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Grade 1 stakes-placed on dirt, Neoequos scored an impressive turf debut Saturday at Gulfstream Park, where the 4-year-old son of Neolithic registered an impressive two-length victory in the $75,000 Sunshine Turf.
The Sunshine Turf, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for Florida-bred 4-year-olds and up, co-headlined Saturday’s program with the $75,000 Sunshine Sprint, a six-furlong dash for older Florida-bred horses.
Neoequos, who finished third in last year’s Fountain of Youth (G2) and Curlin Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream before finishing off-the-board in the Kentucky Derby (G1), received a perfect trip under Tyler Gaffalione.
“He traveled really well until the eighth-pole and then it looked like he was beaten, and then he kicked in again. Tyler said that first time on the grass he got a little lost,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “He runs well on the dirt obviously, but it looks like, the grass, we’re going to stay there.”
Neoequos ($13) broke cleanly from the starting gate to follow a contested pace while saving ground around the first turn and along the backstretch before being taken off the rail on the turn into the homestretch. Looking very much like a convincing winner at the top of the stretch, he stalled briefly before kicking in powerfully to win going away over Seminole Chief, who put in a strong rally along the rail.
“All the credit goes to Saffie and his team. They brought the horse over here ready. They had a lot of confidence in him, and they told me to ride him with confidence,” Gaffalione said. “The horse put himself in a great spot. He broke alertly, was able to sit right off the speed and when I called on him he was able to keep finding. He kind of hesitated coming to the top of the stretch, but once he switched leads he found another gear and leveled off nicely.”
Neoequos, who finished sixth in the Sept. 20 Gallant Bob (G2) at Parx last time out, ran 1 1/16-miles in 1:40.36. Seminole Chief, who was ridden by John Velazquez, finished three-quarters of a length ahead of third-place finisher Tank, who set or pressed the pace during a 47.29-second first half-mile under Javier Castellano.
Neoequos is owned by C2 Racing Stable LLC, Ian Parsard, Shining Stables LLC, Stefania Farms LLC, Ken Reimer, Paul Braverman and Timothy Pinch.
“His last work was good, but it’s a still a big difference,” Joseph said. “I thought if he handled it, he was doing well. You don’t know how they’re going to do until they get on it. Thankfully, he handled it and opened some options up.”
