SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – With five wins in his last six starts on turf, each of those victories a little more impressive and important than the one before, Neat figures to be a deserving favorite when he faces seven other 3-year-olds going one mile over the inner turf in Friday’s $500,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga.
Neat has sandwiched victories in the Grade 3 Transylvania at Keeneland and Grade 3 Manila at Aqueduct around his only loss on grass, a disappointing seventh-place finish in the American Turf at Churchill Downs on May 4. The performance had his trainer, Rob Atras, scratching his head afterward, the only plausible excuse perhaps being the relatively short turnaround, just four weeks, since his hard-fought nose decision over Cugino in the Transylvania.
Atras gave Neat eight weeks off upon his return from Kentucky, the son of Constitution rebounding with a three-quarter-length victory in the Manila. Junior Alvarado was aboard Neat for the first time that day and gave the steadily improving 3-year-old a perfect, pace-stalking trip, the pair opening a clear lead through midstretch before holding off a late rally from the 8-5 favorite Deterministic.
“I really just want to put a line through the Churchill Downs race,” said Atras. “He trained really well coming out of that race and he ran to expectations. We were obviously pleased with his effort. He was very professional, he has definitely matured as the year’s gone on, and Junior did a terrific job working out a great trip.”
Neat could find himself in a similar position during the early stages of the Hall of Fame with Barksdale expected to set the pace while stretching out in distance off a series of sprint races.
“He’s kept his weight and energy level really well coming out of his last race, so we’re obviously looking for another big effort,” said Atras. “He usually breaks well, so hopefully he can work out another stalking trip. With these tight turns, you never want to be too wide, more than a path or two, on that course.”
Neat will carry high weight of 124 pounds, including Alvarado, under the allowance conditions of the Hall of Fame, conceding up to 11 pounds to his foes.
Lagynos finished just three-parts of a length behind Neat when third in the Transylvania but more than six lengths in front of that rival when the pair met again in the American Turf. A very consistent sort from a Beyer Speed Figure standpoint, Lagynos will make his local debut for trainer Steve Asmussen off a fourth-place finish in the American Derby at Churchill on June 29.
Zverev and Army Officer will make their stakes debuts on Friday. Both are coming off allowance wins.
Zverev earned a career-high 87 Beyer defeating older horses at Churchill on June 20. Army Officer showing an affinity for the local strip when rallying to a popular one-length decision against straight 3-year-olds here June 7.
Army Officer is one of two members of the field with a win over the course, joining the Mike Maker-trained Buttercream Babe, who defeated 3-year-old allowance company by 1 1/2 lengths here on June 8. He bounced out of that race with another big effort five weeks later when a fast-closing second in the Horseshoe Indianapolis Handicap.
Please Advise, fourth in the Manila, and the restricted stakes winner Crystal Quest complete the lineup.
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