Gulfstream: Derby Hopeful Neoequos Fires Bullet at Gulfstream

By David Joseph —-

Derby Hopeful Neoequos Fires Bullet at Gulfstream

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – C2 Racing Stable LLC, Ian Parsard, Shining Stables LLC and Stefania Farms LLC’s Neoequos breezed a half-mile Thursday morning at Gulfstream Park in preparation for a desired start in the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs.

The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Florida-bred colt, who finished third in both the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) March 29 and $400,000 Coolmore Fountain of Youth (G2) March 1 at Gulfstream, sits 21st in the qualifying points standings for the first leg of the Triple Crown. The 3-year-old son of Neolithic will need a defection from the current Top 20 to run in the 1 ¼-mile Run for the Roses.

Neoequos worked in company with Mr. Narcissistic and finished on even terms with his veteran stablemate in 48.43 seconds, the fastest four-furlong clocking of the morning.

Video: https://1st.tv/video/workout/1_t19enlif/

“It went good. He worked in company. He was inside his workmate. It was his last breeze and we were just looking for maintenance,” Joseph said. “It went well. He’s in good form.”

Joseph reported that Neoequos will ship to Churchill Downs Friday morning.

“We feel like we can get into the Derby, but if he doesn’t get in, he’ll run in one of the other races Derby Day,” he said.

If unsuccessful drawing into the Derby field, Neoequos would run in either the American Turf (G1) or the Pat Day Mile (G2) on the undercard.

“Right now, we’re leaning to the American Turf, but the Pat Day Mile, I’d say, is also in contention,” said Joseph.

Flavien Prat will be named on Neoequos and would ride him in the Derby unless Baeza, who sits 23rd in the points standings, also drew into the field.

Neoequos’ career got off to a rocky start last July when he stumbled and lost his rider early in his debut at five furlongs. The Florida-bred colt bounced back to graduate in his next start before finishing second in the first two legs of the Florida Sire Stakes series behind undefeated Rated by Merit, who produced the fastest Beyer Speed Figure (99) of all 2025 juveniles in the seven-furlong FSS Affirmed.

Neoequos was sharp off a layoff to win a Jan. 23 allowance by 3 ½ lengths before finishing third behind Sovereignty and River Thames in the 1 1/16-mile Coolmore Fountain of Youth and again in the 1 1/8-mile Curlin Florida Derby behind Tappan Street and Sovereignty, both of whom are Kentucky Derby-bound.

Joseph-trained Early On has secured a start in the May 2 Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill on the strength of a second-place finish in the March 15 Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs and a runner-up finish in the April 5 Gazelle (G3) at Aqueduct. The New York-bred daughter of Union Rags graduated at Gulfstream in her 2025 debut Feb. 5.

Friday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Estimated at $175,000

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be estimated at $175,000 for Friday’s nine-race program at Gulfstream Park.

Post time is 12:50 p.m.

Friday’s sequence, which spans Races 4-9, kicks off with a claiming event for maiden fillies and mares 3 and up going 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather Tapeta course. Beentee, trained by Christophe Clement, is the 9-5 program favorite after two unsuccessful tries in similar company on the turf.

Race 6 is a second-level optional claiming allowance for Florida-bred 3-year-old fillies at one mile and 70 yards on the Tapeta. Good Long Cry adds Lasix and tries synthetic for the first time after posting a record of 1-4-1 in eight grass starts, most recently finishing third against males in the March 30 Sophomore Turf at Tampa Bay Downs. Starship Melody broke her maiden first time on Tapeta March 6 and was beaten a nose in her second attempt March 23.

The co-feature comes in Race 8, a second-level optional claiming allowance for Florida-bred 3-year-olds and up sprinting 6 ½ furlongs on the main track. Roar Ready, third or better in 10 of 16 starts, races first off the claim for trainer Victor Barboza Jr., who succeeds at 30 percent with the move. Arindel’s Lasso and morning-line longshot Teofimo both come in off wins. Awesome Beast is winless in five starts this year with a second and two thirds after capturing his debut last May.

In the Rainbow 6, the carryover pool is only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day’s pool usually goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

The Rainbow 6 has gone unsolved for five racing days following a mandatory payout of $6,047.50 April 13.

Notes: Jockey Edgard Zayas added two wins to his Royal Palm meet-leading totals with Wiggle An’ Wine ($5.80) in Race 4 and War Officer ($9.20) in Race 8.

About The Stronach Group and 1/ST

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The Stronach Group’s 1/ST business (pronounced “First”) is North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company and includes the 1/ST RACING & GAMING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY and 1/ST EXPERIENCE businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING & GAMING drives the best-in-class racing operations and gaming offerings at the company’s premier racetracks, training centers and premier events including: Santa Anita Park and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); Laurel Park, The Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the operating group for 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, TSG Global Wagering Solutions (GWS) and 1/ST TV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred racing on and off the track. The Stronach Group’s TSG Properties is responsible for the development of the company’s live, play and work communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). For more information email david.joseph@GulfstreamPark.com and visit www.1st.com or follow @1ST_racing on Twitter or @1stracing on Instagram and Facebook.