BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Florida-breds Neoequos and Tres Coronas make up a strong Sunshine State representation Friday night at Charles Town Races as both enter the $500,000 Robert Hilton Memorial off winning efforts. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Neoequos is the 7-2 second choice on the morning line in the seven-furlong test while Tres Coronas is 5-1 in the program for trainer Luis Ramirez. 

Neoequos comes into the Robert Hilton after winning the $95,000 Jersey Shore in his typical front-running style by three-and-three-quarters lengths on July 18 at Monmouth Park. The bay son of Pleasant Acres stallions’ Neolithic took advantage of easier company in the Jersey Shore after four straight races against some of the best in his class including an off-the-board finish in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve won by Sovereignty at Churchill Downs on May 3. Earlier this year, Neoequos was third in both the Grade 2 Coolmore Fountain of Youth and Grade 1 Curlin Florida Derby presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa at Gulfstream Park to qualify for the Run for the Roses.

 

Neoequos sports a career record of three wins, two seconds and two thirds in 10 starts and has earned $354,050. He is owned by C2 Racing Stable, Ian Parsard, Shining Stables LLC, Stefania Farms LLC, Ken T. Reimer, Paul Braverman and Timothy Pinch.

He is out of Bold Birdie, by Birdstone and was bred in Florida by Helen and Joseph Barbazon in partnership with Dr. Matt and Lona Vuskovich’s Matalona Thoroughbreds LLC.

Irad Ortiz Jr. has been named to ride and Neoequos has drawn post three.

Smith Ranch Stables’ homebred Tres Coronas makes his stakes debut with a two-race win streak to his credit.

In one start as a 2-year-old, Tres Coronas was second by a neck to Zizka in a six-and-a-half-furlong maiden special weight for Florida-breds in August but has not lost since.

In his first start this year, he won a six-furlong maiden special weight at Gulfstream on June 8, leading at every point of call to win by six-and-a-quarter lengths. He repeated that effort against first level, $20,000 optional claiming Florida-breds at six furlongs at Gulfstream on July 20, winning by nearly five lengths after leading from the start.

 

Tres Coronas is by Ocala Stud’s Win Win Win out of Lago Lindo, by High Cotton and has earned $66,800 in his three races.

Ramirez has given the riding assignment to Jonathan Ocasio and they have post two.

The 5-2 morning line favorite is Owen Almighty, who makes his first start since finishing fifth in the Kentucky Derby. Earlier this year, the son of Speightstown earned his way into the Derby with a three-and-a-half-length victory in the Grade 3 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby on March 8. He was then eighth in the Grade 1 Blue Grass won by Burnham Square at Keeneland before heading to Churchill Downs for the Derby.

Brian Lynch trains Owen Almighty, who sports a record of three wins and two second in eight starts. The bay colt has earned $649,935 for owner Flying Dutchman Breeding and Racing. 

Owen Almighty has post seven and jockey Tyler Gaffalione.

Rounding out the field are Faster Gator with Arnaldo Bocachica named to ride, C. J. McMahon has the riding assignment on Cool Cowboy, Can Do Andrew will have Ramon Vasquez in the saddle, Just a Fair Shake has Xavier Perez up, Luis Saez rides Gunmetal and Barbadian Runner will have jockey Forest Boyce.

Return to the August 20 issue of Wire to Wire