Neolithic gelding breaks his maiden like a veteran

If ever a lightly-raced runner didn’t look like a neophyte while breaking his maiden, it was Neophyte yesterday as he won the third race at Gulfstream Park, a $50,000 maiden special at five furlongs over the Tapeta surface.

The 3-year-old gelding by Neolithic had raced twice last summer, finishing third both times. He returned on June 17 after a layoff of 8 1/2 months and finished third again. But in start No. 4 yesterday, he looked like a combat veteran as Jose Morelos took him wire-to-wire to become his sire’s 12th winner of 2022.

Neophyte broke quickly from the gate and opened up a two-length lead, speeding past the quarter in :21.97 and the half in :45.23. He then cruised to the wire without a challenge, scoring by 4 1/2 lengths in :57.10.

The gelding bred by SCF Inc. paid $11.60 while earning a check for $30,700, raising his bank account to $41,220 and receiving his highest ‘E’ figure of 78. With 12 winners from 23 starters, he’s one of just two top 20 Florida sires currently over 50% in that category.