BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-bred Neoequos has made the field for the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade 1) run May 3, as announced by Churchill Downs officials Friday. Neoequos has drawn into the $5 million Run for the Roses after Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners decided to withdraw Built from the Derby field, opting for the $600,000 Pat Day Mile (G2) to be run on the Derby undercard.
Owned by C2 Racing Stable LLC, Ian Parsard, Shining Stables LLC and Stefania Farms LLC’s, Neoequos is trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., who put the colt through a bullet half-mile breeze at Gulfstream Park Thursday morning. Neoequos worked in company with Mr. Narcissistic, finishing on even terms with his veteran stablemate in :48.43, the fastest four-furlong clocking of the morning.
According to the Churchill Downs press office, Neoequos is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs Saturday from his base at Palm Meadows Training Center in Boynton, Beach, Fla.
He will be the 121st Florida-bred to race in the Kentucky Derby and first since Tami Bobo and Tristan de Meric’s Simplification finished fourth in the 2022 edition won by longshot Rich Strike.
Neoequos makes the Derby field with 40 points on the Derby Leaderboard. He earned 15 points for finishing third in the $400,000 Coolmore Fountain of Youth won by Sovereignty on March 1 and 25 points for finishing third behind winner Tappan Street in the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa on March 29, both at Gulfstream Park. Both Tappan Street and Sovereignty are scheduled to run in the Derby.
By Pleasant Acres Stallions’ Neolithic out of Bold Birdie, by Birdstone, Neoequos was bred in Florida by Helen and Joseph Barbazon and Matalona Thoroughbreds LLC. He has earned $291,050 from two wins, two seconds and two thirds in seven lifetime starts.
Joseph purchased Neoequos at the 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Sales October Yearling Sale for a bargain $22,000, selecting him out of Lisa McGreevy’s Abbie Road Farm consignment based in Sparr, Fla. Susan Montanye of Ocala prepared Neoequos for his racing career at her SBM Training and Sales operation, also located in Ocala.
Post positions for the Kentucky Derby will be drawn at Churchill Downs this Saturday. Joseph is expected to name Flavien Prat as the jockey for Neoequos.
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