Neolithic geldings go wire-to-wire

Wire-to-wire was the theme of the day for a pair of Neolithic geldings yesterday, with Big Bucksalot scoring at Tampa Bay Downs and Cantankerous Cat winning at Penn National.

BIG BUCKSALOT – The gelding bred by Julie Jackson didn’t race at two, and is now 3-1-1 in 13 tries at three. With veteran Joe Ferrer aboard, he whizzed past the poles in :22.03, :45.97 and 1:11.04 without getting a challenge, and won by nearly three lengths in 1:24.02. He paid $5.60 and earned a check for $10,500, lifting his total to $40,130.

CANTANKEROUS CAT – As opposed to Big Bucksalot, the 4-year-old bred by Joe and Helen Barbazon strolled through the quarters under Inoel Beato and still didn’t receive a threat. He won by 2 1/4 lengths and collected $6,480, boosting his total to $63,837 on a record of 2-4-1 in 19 starts. He paid $6.20 and became Neolithic’s 30th winner this year.

Neolithic also had a recent wire-to-wire winner at Camarero in Puerto Rico – the 3-year-old filly Dream V. scored by 2 1/4 lengths.

Neolithic’s progeny earnings for 2023 have reached $1,241,727, and he’s ninth on Florida’s general sire list.