Neolithic colt prevents stewards from taking his number down

Sizzling Neolithic added 2024 winner No. 10 yesterday at Gulfstream Park and moved up one more spot into sixth place on Florida’s early general sire list.

Prevent, a 3-year-old stakes-placed colt bred by Katia Perez Ozuna, went wire-to-wire under John Velazquez in a $59,000 allowance optional claimer at one mile and 70 yards over the Tapeta surface. He nosed out 8/5 favorite Northshore Drive at the wire, then survived a foul claim lodged by the runner-ups’ jockey, Irad Ortiz Jr., the country’s leading rider. The two colts had exchanged mild bumps in mid-stretch, and it took the stewards many minutes to decide the outcome, even though it was obvious Prevent hadn’t caused the minor problem and was never in danger of coming down. He paid $8.40.

Prevent, a $15,000 OBS Winter purchase, was clocked in 1:39.11, just a little more than one second off the course record for the distance. He earned a check for $37,400, increasing his bank account to $122,460 on a record of 2-3-0 in nine starts, all made at Gulfstream.