BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Already a stakes-winner on turf and dirt, Florida-bred Neoequos tries synthetic for the first time Friday as the 5-2 second choice in the $150,000 Presque Isle Mile at Presque Isle Downs. The 4-year-old Florida-bred son of Pleasant Acres Stallions Neolithic has the outside post eight in the mile-and-one-sixteenth test for 3-year-olds and older.
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. has Neoequos racing at his ninth different track in his last 10 starts—all in stakes—going back to a thirteenth-place finish after pressing the pace in the 2025 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve at Churchill Downs. He has won twice, the six-furlong, $95,000 Jersey Shore at Monmouth Park in July of last year and the $75,000 Sunshine Turf versus Florida-breds at Gulfstream Park on January 17 in his only career race on grass.
Since the Sunshine Turf, Neoequos was third in the Grade 3 Oaklawn Mile at Oaklawn Park in March, second in the Grade 3 Steve Sexton Mile at Lone Star Park in May, fifth in the Grade 3 Hanshin at Churchill and third last out in the $200,000 West Virginia Governor’s Stakes at Mountaineer Park on August 9.
Owned by C2 Racing Stable, Ian Parsard, Shining Stables, Stefania Farms, Ken T. Reimer, Paul Braverman and Timothy Pinch, Neoequos has earned $651,550 from four wins, four seconds and fourth thirds in 17 starts. Joseph bought him for $22,000 out of Lisa McGreevy’s Abbie Road Farm consignment at the 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Sales October Yearling Sale consignment.
Neoequos is out of the Birdstone mare Bold Birdie and was bred in Florida by Helen and Joseph Barbazon of Morriston and Dr. Matt and Lona Vuskovich’s Matalona Thoroughbreds based in Gainesville.
Paco Lopez will ride Neoequos for the first time.
The 8-5 morning line favorite is Encino, who is two-for-two over the track including a nearly two-length score in this race last year and a length victory in the $99,000 Avery Whisman Memorial going a mile-and-70 yards last out on August 10.
Trained by Brad Cox, the Godolphin homebred has won five with two seconds in eight career starts on synthetic. He won the $142,000 John Bettaglia Memorial (Listed) and $247,000 Prairie Bayou in December, both at Turfway Park.
Encino is by Nyquist out of Glittering Jewel, by Bernardini and a lifetime record of eight wins, two seconds and a third in 17 starts with $876,053 in purse earnings.
Axel Concepcion rides Encino from post one.
Others entered for the Presque Isle Mile are Britain’s Kitten with Israel Rodriguez in the saddle, jockey Rosario Montanez teams with Grounded, Mackenzie’s Novva will have Ciera Pruitt up, He’s a Mess will be guided by Antonio Gallardo, Walber Alencar rides Jimmy the Hat and Fortune Seller will be ridden by Gaddiel Martinez.
Return to the September 15 issue of Wire to Wire
