Neolithic filly makes her case again

Last year was Neolithic’s best: he accumulated progeny earnings of $2,884,398, in third place among all stallions on Florida’s general sire list. When Willow Case captured the $75,000 Hallandale Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park yesterday, with its $44,550 to the winner, Neolithic’s current progeny earnings jumped to $2,703,520, making his first $3 million season a virtual certainty.

Leonel Reyes was aboard the 2-year-old filly again, after he had guided Willow Case to a 3 1/4-length victory in the $75,000 Sharp Susan Stakes in her previous start. Reyes sent her out slowly and she was sixth heading down the backstretch. When he gave her the go sign, Willow Case made a strong wide move, caught the leaders at the top of the stretch and went on to win in a hard drive by three-quarters of a length, clocked in 1:38.02 for the mile.

Willow Case has now won three straight, and as opposed to the $56 win payoff in her last race, this time she paid $8.80. The filly bred by Sherry R. Mansfield and Kenneth M. Davis has earned $130,850 in four starts.