Neolithic welcomes 48th winner of 2026

Kip the Distance lifted Neolithic closer to his personal best in the number of winners department with her first 2026 victory in a $27,000 starter optional claimer at Gulfstream Park. Neolithic had 53 winners last year – Kip the Distance became No. 48 of this year.

In a race at six furlongs, Carlos Martinez was in the irons on the 4-year-old filly and he got her away quickly, racing in the three path down the backstretch. Kip the Distance made an early wide move, took the lead on the turn and won decisively by 2 1/4 lengths, clocked in 1:10.85. The filly bred and trained by Angel Rodriguez paid a generous $23.60 and earned a check for $15,750, increasing her total to $238,551 on a record of 5-5-6 in 32 starts.