It must have been karma – two Neolithic runners reaching the winners’ circle, more than 1,000 miles apart, and only six minutes apart.

MISS NEO – The 6-year-old mare bred by Joe and Helen Barbazon, Ed Seltzer and Beverly Anderson, broke from the Monmouth Park starting gate at 4:29 p. m. for a six-furlong test with Sebastian Orellana in the saddle. It was just her third start after a 9-month vacation and she was looking for her second victory in that span.

Off at odds of 8-1, Miss Neo came from off the pace with a strong rally and won by 2 1/4 lengths, clocked in 1:11.05. She paid $19.40 and earned a check for $9,600, bringing her total to $63,660 on a record of 4-5-0 in 18 starts.

GUNS AND COFFEE – In just his second start, the 3-year-old gelding, a $21,000 OBS Open 2-year-old bred by Patrick Hoppel, left the gate with Edgar Perez at 4:35 at Gulfstream Park just as Miss Neo was posing for pictures up north. He battled up front for a half, took over on the turn, and continued on to also win by 2 1/4 lengths, clocked in 1:19.30 for the 6 1/2 furlongs in the $65,000 maiden special.

Guns and Coffee paid $6.60 and collected $39,000 for his initial score. He became 2026 winner No. 43 for Neolithic.