BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Having raced against Grade 1 rivals in his last three races including a start in this year’s Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, Florida-bred Neoequos faces less accomplished rivals Friday at Monmouth Park in the $100,000 Jersey Shore. The bay son of Neolithic, who stands in Florida at Pleasant Acres Stallions, is the 8-5 second choice among six 3-year-olds who will race six furlongs.

Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Neoequos has earned Grade 1-placed credentials this year against some of the best of his class with two third-place efforts in the Grade 1 Curlin Florida Derby won by Tappan Street going nine furlongs on March 29 and in the Grade 2 Coolmore Fountain of Youth taken by this year’s Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1)-winner Sovereignty at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on March 1, both at Gulfstream Park.

Neoequos was thirteenth in the Kentucky Derby then finished ninth in the Woody Stephens presented by Mohegan Sun (G1) won by Patch Adams going seven furlongs on a muddy track at Saratoga Race Course on the Belmont Stakes undercard on June 7.

Out of the Birdstone mare Bold Birdie, Neoequos has two wins, two seconds and two thirds in nine starts while earning $294,050 for owners C Two Racing Stable, Ian Parsard, Shining Stable LLC, Stefania Farms LLC, Ken T. Reimer, Paul Braverman and Timothy Pinch.

 

Joseph bought Neoequos as a yearling for $22,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales October Sale where he was consigned by Lisa McGreevy’s Abbie Road Farm.

Samuel Marin will ride Neoequos for the first time and they have post five.

Trainer Brad Cox has entered Gunmetal, who was tenth and two lengths behind Neoequos in the Woody Stephens last out.

The lightly raced Gunmetal entered the Woody Stephens off a three-and-three-quarters-length score in a first level, $125,000 optional claiming going six furlongs at Keeneland on April 8 after he finished third in the $155,000 Swale won by Gate to Wire at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 1. He won a six-furlong maiden special weight at Fair Grounds in his first career start on Dec. 26.

A $410,000 yearling at the 2023 Keeneland September Sale, Gunmetal is by Gun Runner out of Classy Dancer, by Speightstown and has earned $123,330 for owners WinStar Farm LLC and CHC Inc.

Gunmetal is the 3-2 morning line favorite and Florent Geroux will ride him from post one.

Also set for the Jersey Shore are Donut God with jockey Samy Camacho, Andy Hernandez has the mount on Fire Pit, Persisten will have Ronald Ordonez in the irons and Paco Lopez takes the call on Pedro Nunes.

Return to the July 16 issue of Wire to Wire