Bernie Dickman

If Not For Luck has achieved an excellent record in his five years of racing, 8-3-7 in 24 starts with earnings of $271,850. In that time, the 7-year-old son of Neolithic has posted no less than nine Equibase ‘E’ speed figures in the 90s.

The latest score for the $30,000 (twice) OBS purchase came in a $35,000 starter optional claimer at Gulfstream Park in a race at 5 1/2 furlongs over the Tapeta surface. Micah Husbands was in the irons, and If Not For Luck was off last in the field of six. Husbands sent him up five wide on the turn and his charge responded by cruising into the lead, and going on to win by one-half length, clocked in 1:03.17, just 1 1/2 seconds off the course record.

The veteran runner bred by Juan Rodriguez paid $6.60 and earned a check for $20,300.

In her second start following a 4-month vacation, Maryland-bred Neolithica was much the best in a six-furlong test at Penn National, winning for the 10th time in her 28-race career.

The 5-year-old mare bred by Maria M. Haire, a $30,000 Timonium October yearling, contested the pace through a :22.82 quarter under Yabriel Ramos, then drew off by herself via fractions of :45.87 and :57.87 before reaching the wire in 1:10.37, 2 1/4 lengths in front. She paid $8 and collected $13,800, increasing her lifetime total to $214,974.

Irad Ortiz Jr. enjoyed a dream trip aboard Neoequos in the $400,000, Gr. III Steve Sexton Mile at Lone Star Park, achieving an impressive 113 Equibase ‘E’ speed figure. Unfortunately, the 4-year-old colt bred by Joe and Helen Barbazon in partnership with Matalona Thoroughbreds, was unable to hold off Heroic Move, who came from last place and closed like a cyclone to nail Neolithic’s leading money-winner nearing the wire, and going on to win by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:36.92.

Ortiz settled Neoequos into third place on the inside down the backstretch, and went after the leaders on the turn without leaving the rail. He took the lead in mid-stretch and appeared to be on his way to the winner’s circle, but Heroic Move proved to be too heroic.

Neoequos, a $22,000 OBS October yearling, earned a healthy $75,200 as runner-up, ballooning his career total to $624,425 on a record of 4-4-3 in 15 starts, $166,875 coming this year from just three outings: (1-1-1).

Larry Anderson, manager of Ocala’s Get Away Farm, is the breeder of Neostar, a 4-year-old Neolithic colt who sold for $3,000 at the OBS Winter sale, then brought Anderson just four minor breeder’s awards in his first 11 starts (three thirds and a second), all in his last 10 tries at Tampa Bay Downs.

That all ended as Neostar broke his maiden in style under veteran Jose Ferrer in a 5 1/2-furlong test over the Tapeta surface at Gulfstream Park. Ferrer had the colt sitting third after the start. came four wide into the stretch, then cruised down the lane to a 2 1/2-length victory, clocked in 1:04.15. He paid $23.20, collected a check of $21,300 for owner/trainer Ricky Davis and earned a career-best 81 Equibase ‘E’ speed figure, while becoming Neolithic’s 28th winner of 2026.

With about six weeks left until mid-year, Neolithic is well on his way to surpassing last season, when he racked up 50 winners. Neoprene has given the son of Harlan’s Holiday winner number 27 in 2026 with a convincing score at Presque Isle Downs.

The 5-year-old mare bred by Belinda Kitos at Southern Cross Farm had Huber Villa-Gomez in the saddle for the 5 1/2-furlong trip over the all-weather course. Neoprene broke quickly and chased the early pacesetter down the backstretch while sitting a comfortable second. She went up to battle up front on the turn, came wide into the stretch and proved best by 2 1/2 lengths, clocked in 1:04.25.

Neoprene paid $9.20, and the check for $8,400 lifted her earnings to $56,739.

Neolithic’s 26th winner of 2026 is Bayou Brigid, a 3-year-old bred by Joe and Helen Barbazon who came from off the pace in a $65,000 allowance race on the grass at Gulfstream Park to spark a 1-3 finish for the Pleasant Acres top-ranked stallion.

Samy Camacho was aboard Bayou Brigid, who was off in mid-pack in the race at 1 1/16 miles, and was settled comfortably in striking distance on the inside down the backstretch while My Denysse set the pace. Camacho let her out on the turn and she proved to be much the best, drawing off to score by nearly two lengths in 1:41.67. A 1-2 Neolithic finish just missed when My Denysse was nailed at the wire for second.

Bayou Brigid, a $20,000 OBS April 2-year-old, paid $6 and earned a check for $39,000, raising her total to $140,680 on a record of 2-2-2 in 0 starts.

Tom McCrocklin’s affinity for runners by Neolithic has now crossed the border with Empty Handed winning a $75,524 maiden special at Woodbine in her first start. McCrocklin bred the 3-year-old filly in partnership with Frank Mermenstein but she made her debut racing in McCrocklin’s name.

Empty Handed was 7/2 for her first try and threw her head leaving the gate, but it made little difference. She toured the six furlongs in the $75,524 maiden special over the all-weather track in 1:12.14, swinging five wide into the stretch and coasting away at the finish, scoring by 3 1/2 lengths. She paid $9.20 and McCrocklin prospered to the tune of $32,599 in U. S. funds.

The German phrase ‘das ist alles’ translates into English as ‘that’s all,’ and that’s just what Das Ist Alles Ally said to the field as she held her Gulfstream Park rivals safe for her first victory of 2026 in her sixth start of the year.

The 4-year-old filly owned and trained by Terry Bruner had Miguel Vasquez aboard for the mile-and-70-yard trip over the Tapeta surface. Das Ist Alles was off fifth on the outside, remained that way until making a four-wide bid on the turn, took the lead in the stretch and won it by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:44.59.

She paid $11.20 and collected a check for $17,300, increasing her total to $59,412 on a record of 3-1-2 in 16 starts.

Neolithic’s 23rd winner of 2026 is Astridshadowmoon, who overcame a slow start in a six-furlong test at Tampa Bay Downs and was able to get up for a half-length victory clocked in 1:12.19.

The 3-year-old gelding bred by Roberto Hernandez walked out of the gate, but Angel Serpa quickly rushed him up three wide into a stalking position down the backstretch. They went after the leading pair on the turn and proved best in the run to the wire. Astridshadowmoon, who RNA’ed twice at OBS, paid a generous $27.20 and collected a check for $14,050, increasing his total to $17,025 on a record of 1-0-1 in five starts.

Former Gulfstream Park and Hialeah attorney David Romanik and his trainer and often co-owner Ron Spatz have enjoyed great success with runners by Pleasant Acres stallions. The latest is Peppermint Man, a 4-year-old Neolithic gelding who went wire-to-wire in a one mile race on the turf at Gulfstream.

Diego Herrera was aboard Peppermint Man, who battled head-and-head with favorite Operation Torch through a half in :45.91 and three quarters in 1:09.39 before Peppermint Man left the 3/2 shot behind, then prevailed by a head in 1:34.83 over a fast-closing 60-1 shot. Romanik collected $19,000 for the score, which jumped his gelding’s earnings to $53,880 on a record of 2-2-0 in 10 starts. He paid $5.00.