Neoequos, dropping in class from three Grade 1 starts, proved considerably better than three rivals in the $95,000 Jersey Shore Stakes on Friday at Monmouth Park.
Third in the Fountain of Youth, third in the Florida Derby, Neoequos failed to contend in the Kentucky Derby, finishing 13th. Cut back in distance to a more suitable seven furlongs, Neoequos checked in ninth June 7 in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens at Saratoga. Friday, racing three-quarters of a mile as the 3-10 favorite, he turned back an upper-stretch bid from Donut God and pulled away for a 3 3/4-length victory.
“I think the class relief helped and I think being back at this distance helped,” said trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.
Six were entered in the 3-year-old restricted Jersey Shore but four went into the gate after Gunmetal, an on-paper contender, and European import Pedro Nunes were scratched. Donut God, Neoequos’s main rival, broke flat-footed from post 1, and instead of racing on the lead, where he figured to wind up, he stalked the pace from third.
Fire Pit broke sharply and got to the front, with Neoequos tracking him through an opening quarter mile in 22.55. Around the turn and heading to the three-furlong marker, Donut God had run, launching a bid as Neoequos took the measure of Fire Pit, but after briefly looming alongside the favorite, Donut God lost momentum as Neoequos dashed clear.
“The one I was worried about was Donut God and he didn’t break as well as he should have,” said jockey Samuel Marin. “Donut God made a little run at us. I took a look back and saw him right behind me coming out of the turn. But I was still in hand. I was just waiting on my horse to tell him to go. He’s just a classy horse.”
Donut God finished almost eight lengths in front of Fire Pit, with Persisten bringing up the rear. The winner paid $2.60 after clocking 1:09.51 over a fast track. Show wagering was canceled.
Florida-bred Neoequos is by Neolithic out of Bold Birdie, by Birdstone. Joseph, who trains the horse for a partnership, said Neoequos would likely be kept to one-turn racing.
One turn, three rivals, and a class drop did the trick Friday at Monmouth.
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