Neophyte performs like a veteran for 2nd Gulfstream Victory; Our Fantasy wins by 11

In his last race at Gulfstream Park, Neophyte made a strong late run under Sonny Leon only to fall half a length short at the wire in a race at five furlongs over the Tapeta track. In the third race yesterday, the 4-year-old Neolithic gelding turned in the same kind of effort, but this time – at 5 1/2 furlongs – he was able to get up to score by half a length.

Down the backstretch, Leon moved Neophyte off the rail and sent him seven wide turning into the stretch. The gelding bred by SCF Farm did the rest, blowing by the frontrunners and holding off one closer as they approached the wire. He was clocked in 1:03.86.

The consistent Neophyte paid $6.40, while raising his record to 2-2-4 in 13 starts and his earnings to $76,440, and becoming Neolithic’s fourth winner this year.

At about the same time that Neolithic was up at the wire in winning the third at Gulfstream, Our Fantasy was destroying the field in the third at Tampa Bay Downs.

The 6-year-old mare by Amira’s Prince collected $8,150 for her seventh career victory, boosting her record to 7-8-8 in 35 starts and her bank account to $247,364. Sam Marin had her in a stalking position down the backstretch, and when he moved her on the turn she exploded down the lane and ran away by 11 widening lengths, paying $4.20 and racing seven furlongs in a sharp 1:23.48.

Our Fantasy, a $50,000 OBS April 2-year-old bred by Joe and Helen Barbazon, has finished worse than fourth just once in her last 13 starts.