Neolithic 7-Year-old Needed No Luck for 3rd in a Row

It was a strong last-to-first performance at Gulfstream Park Saturday for If Not For Luck, who made it three Tapeta victories in a row – under co-highweight of 123 pounds and a confident ride from Irad Ortiz Jr.

The 7-year-old son of Neolithic became his sire’s eighth January winner, and raised his record to 7-2-7 in 22 starts. The check for $16,200 for the $35,000 OBS April 2-year-old increased his career total to $244,470.

Ortiz settled If Not For Luck in sixth place early in the race at 5 1/2 furlongs over the all-weather surface, and when he asked him to run, if Not For Luck inhaled the opposition with a wide run and drew off to score by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:02.44, just four-fifths of a second off the track record. He paid $2.80 and was claimed out of the race.