For Neolithic, two victories in the midwest

Neolithic had two runners on the tab in the midwest yesterday and both won, as the son of Harlan’s Holiday continues his run toward his first $2 million season.

At Fanduel, the old Fairmount Park in Illinois, Short Straw exploded out of the gate under Reynier Arrieta and opened up an incredible 9-length lead with a first quarter in :22.99, then coasted the rest of the way, winning by nearly three lengths with six furlongs in 1:12.95. It was the third victory in 14 starts for the 4-year-old filly bred by Shade Tree Thoroughbreds; she paid $7 and earned a check for $4,800.

At Thistledown in Ohio, Bourbon Over Ice, who hasn’t been worse than fourth in his last 13 races, raised his record to 7-5-6 in 38 starts with a 1 3/4-length score in a 5 1/2-furlong test under Roberto Perez. The 5-year-old gelding, a $35,000 OBS October yearling who was coming off three straight thirds, pressed the pace in the two path before taking over in the stretch and receiving his best career Equibase ‘E’ speed figure, an 88. The check for $7,560 increased his total to $110,946. He paid $17.20.

With the pair of victories, Neolithic surpassed $1.8 million in 2024 progeny earnings.