Florida-bred Thoroughbred Neoequos and his exercise rider enjoy a morning work out at Churchill Downs during their preparation for the 2025 Kentucky Derby. (Photo: ©Renee Torbit/Coady Media)
BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Second and third in his last two in Grade 3 company, Florida-bred Neoequos looks to issue his victory at that level Sunday in the $300,000 Hanshin presented by JRA (G3) at Churchill Downs. Ten 4-year-olds and older are entered in the one-mile test.
An out-of-state victory by Neoequos here would produce a $5,000 Export Incentive check for breeders Helen and Joseph Barbazon of Morriston, Florida and Dr. Matt and Lona Vuskovich’s Matalona Thoroughbreds of Gainesville, Florida paid by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
Neoequos started the year on a winning note on the Gulfstream Park grass, winning the $75,000 Sunshine Turf versus Florida-breds going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on January 17. Two months later, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. shipped him to Oaklawn Park for the Grade 3 Oaklawn Mile on March 28 where he finished third behind winner Nu What’s New, who he faces again Sunday. In one start since, Neoequos improved to finish second to Heroic Move in the Grade 3 Steve Sexton Mile at Lone Star Park on May 25, producing a career best 96 Beyer Speed Figure.
Sunday, he returns to Churchill for the first time since running in the last year’s Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) where after being bumped at the start, he recovered to set the pace with Citizen Bull before finishing thirteenth.
In seven races since his Derby run, he has run at seven different tracks with a victory in the $95,000 Jersey Shore at Monmouth Park in July and a second in the $500,000 Robert Hilton Memorial (Listed) at Charles Town in August to his credit.
Overall, Neoequos has a very dependable four wins, four seconds and three thirds in 15 starts with earnings of $624,425. Out of the Birdstone mare Bold Birdie, Neoequose is owned by Mark and Clint Cornett’s C2 Racing, Ian Passard, Morgan Joseph’s Shining Stables, Edwin and Stefanie Wilson’s Stefania Farms, Ken T. Reimer, Paul Braverman and Timothy Pinch. Saffie Joseph purchased him for $22,000 as a yearling out of Lisa McGreevy’s Abbie Road consignment at the 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Sales October Yearling Sale.
He is 10-1 on the morning line and Francisco Arrieta will guide him from post two.
The 4-1 morning line favorite in the evenly match group is Dragoon Guard, who exits a third-place finish behind Hanshin-entrants Tour Player and Moonlight in the $200,000 Knicks Go overnight stakes presented by L&N Federal Credit Union (Listed) going a mile at Churchill on May 2.
Trained by Brad Cox for Juddmonte, Dragoon Guard in another who looks to snap a recent succession of close finishes, having come in second in the Cherokee Mile at Churchill in November three starts back and second in the Royal New Kent Stakes at Colonial Downs on March 13.
A victory would push the 5-year-old Dragoon Guard past the seven-figure threshold in earnings as he sports a bankroll of $949,871 from five wins, five seconds and two thirds in 13 starts.
He will be ridden from post five by Irad Ortiz Jr.
Rounding out the field are Moonlight and jockey Florent Geroux, Owen Almighty has John Velazquez named to ride, Flavien Prat takes the assignment on Imagination, Hall of Fame will have Jose Ortiz in the saddle, Junior Alvarado will take the reins on Crazy Mason, Nu What’s New will be piloted by Luis Saez, Coal Battle and Corey Lanerie and Tour Player will have Tyler Gaffalione up.
Return to the June 27 issue of Wire to Wire
