It’s ‘Last-to-First’ for Nelida at Presque Isle

It was a long time between drinks, a little more than two years to be exact, but Nelida finally scored her second victory, accomplishing it at Presque isle with the best Equibase ‘E’ speed figure of her 16-race career.

The 5-year-old daughter of Neolithic was sent off at 8-1 in the race at a mile and 70 yards over the all-weather surface. She broke last in the seven-horse field under Scott Spieth, who was content to park her along the inside down the backstretch, about eight lengths from the leaders. Approaching the final turn, Spieth let her loose and the mare bred by Just For Fun Stable unleashed a strong wide run, made up a ton of ground in the run down the lane, and was up in the last jump to win by a nose.

Nelida was clocked in 1:41.55, paid $19.80, received an ‘E’ speed figure of 84, and earned a check of $11,400 for long-time owner and breeder Bruno Schickedanz. She became her sire’s 40th winner of 2025 and left Neolithic a few dollars short of $2.3 million in progeny earnings, on pace to reach his first $3-million season.