Neolithic’s on Another Roll; Most Handsome Wins Hollywood Beach

Neolithic recently passed the $2 million mark in 2024 progeny earnings for the first time and at the rate he’s going, it looks like he’ll reach $2.5 million – or more – by year’s end.

The son of Harlan’s Holiday enjoyed an exceptional weekend, with Most Handsome making it 2-for-2 with an impressive score in the $95,000 Hollywood Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park, Ghost Bike romping over a sloppy track at Belterra Park, and Neophyte doing likewise over the Tapeta surface at Gulfstream.

MOST HANDSOME – The 2-year-old gelding bred by Julie Ann Jackson and owned by the successful duo of attorney David Romanik and trainer Ron Spatz, has made buyers look bad as he was an RNA at the last OBS March sale, and has now earned $98,650 in his two winning efforts. In the Hollywood Beach, Drayden Van Dyke sent him out quickly, edged him into the lead on the turn, and Most Handsome held on by a head, clocked in :57.60 for the five furlongs. He paid $5.60 and collected a check for $53,650.

GHOST BIKE – The 4-year-old gelding bred by Shade Tree Thoroughbreds, Geoff Roy and Tom Fitzgerald engaged in a head-and-head battle on the turn in the race at one mile, then proved to be a ton the best in the drive, winning by nearly five lengths in 1:39.49. He paid $16.60 and earned a check for $5,820, boosting his career total to $55,157 on a record of 4-1-6 in 26 starts.

NEOPHYTE – The 5-year-old gelding bred by Belinda Kitos (SCF Inc.), coming off a second in his last, paid $7.20 for his first victory of 2024. He won by 3 1/4 lengths under Jonathan Ocasio, clocked in :56.63 for the five furlongs on the turf. The check for $15,000 increased his bank account to $139,117 on a record of 4-6-9 in 28 tries.

Neolithic now has two stakes-winners and six stakes-placed runners in 2024, and his earnings have reached $2,145,952, less than $9,000 from third place on Florida’s general sire list.