Turf News

Pleasant Acres stallions post back-to-back scores at Gulfstream

It’s possible that Bold N Breezy and Honor Her were buddies as kids at Pleasant Acres – Bold N Breezy is by Gunnevera and was foaled in April of 2022, while Honor Her is by Curlin’s Honor and was foaled two months earlier.

In any event, they may have had a reunion after Bold N Breezy won the second race at Gulfstream Park on Wednesday and was headed back to the barn, while Honor Her was on the way to the paddock for the third race, which she also won 20 minutes later.

BOLD N BREEZY – The 3-year-old colt bred by Joe and Helen Barbazon in partnership with Matalona Thoroughbreds, a $50,000 OBS October yearling, was glued to the hip of 9-1 shot Peppermint Man for most of the trip in a 1 1/16-mile, $30,000 starter optional claimer over the Tapeta surface. When Irad Ortiz Jr. let him out, Bold N Breezy drew off and scored by nearly four lengths. He paid $3.60 and picked up a check for $18,000 after covering the distance in 1:44.36. He’s now 2-1-0 in five starts with earnings of $41,620.

HONOR HER – The 3-year-old filly bred by Jeff Lovelady Jr. was a $35,000 Timonium May 2-year-old. With Javier Castellano aboard, she was fourth, about eight lengths off the pace heading down the backstretch in the race at five furlongs over the Tapeta surface. Castellano swung her off the inside and guided her between horses in the lane and she was up in time to break her maiden by three-quarters, clocked in :58.04. Honor Her paid $6.40 and collected $16,200. She was claimed for $17,500 by trainer Dan Hurtak.

Neolithic Adds Pair of Winners, Now Has 11

Neolithic added a pair of winners on Sunday, one at Laurel Race Course and one at Tampa Bay Downs, giving him 11 for the new year, third best thus far for 2025 among Florida’s stallions.

NEOLITHICA – The 4-year-old filly bred in Maryland by Maria M. Haire went wire-to-wire under Victor Carrasco in a $27,120 starter optional claimer at six furlongs. She passed the furlong markers in :22.96 and :47.45 en route to a 4 1/2-length score in 1:13.04 and collected a check for $16,560, increasing her career total to $103,840. A $30,000 Timonium October yearling, Neolithica paid a healthy $45.80, while raising her record to 5-1-1 in 14 starts.

NOTABLE EXCHANGE – In her seven-furlong career debut in Oldsmar, the 3-year-old filly bred by Joe and Helen Barbazon trailed near the rear of the pack down the backstretch, made a strong surge approaching the turn, then won a three-horse battle down the lane by a neck. Her final clocking was 1:24.76 and her first score was worth $9.20 at the windows and $13,300 in the bank.

Neolithic has already run up $297,931 in progeny earnings in 1 1/2 months and is fourth on Florida’s general sire list.

Pleasant Acres stallions double up on Saturday

Pleasant Acres stallions struck twice on Saturday with eye-catching scores in Florida and Louisiana.

LADY’S CHANT – The 4-year-old filly by Neolithic had veteran Ronnie Allen Jr. in the irons for the mile and 40-yard trip over the main track at Tampa Bay Downs. Despite having won her last, she was allowed to go off at odds of $13-1, and she paid $29.40.

The filly owned and bred by Martin and Emily Goodell was off quickly, then was eased back to second for the run down the backstretch. Allen slipped her through on the inside and she took the lead entering the stretch, then put it in overdrive and coasted to the wire nine lengths in front, clocked in 1:40.84. She raised her record to 2-3-6 in 16 starts, and the check for $10,500 jumped her total to $46,505. She received an Equibase ‘E’ speed figure of 77, best of her 16 starts.

HONOR THAT DUDE – The bred by Maverick Stables in Louisiana broke his maiden at Delta Downs in his ninth start. David Cardoso had him in a stalking position early, sent him to the lead on the turn, and he drew off to win by nearly six lengths in 1:28.61 for the seven furlongs. The $10,000 OBS October yearling collected $16,200 for the score.

Scarecrow Chases Off Tapeta Pursuers

Scarecrow gave Neolithic a big boost in his quest to remain near the top of the Florida general sire list, winning a $97,000 allowance race at Gulfstream Park and reaping the big payoff that goes along with it.

The 3-year-old colt bred by Endsley Oaks Farm benefited from a top-flight ride by Edgard Zayas in the race at 1 1/16 miles over the Tapeta surface. Zayas had Scarecrow in a close stalking position down the backstretch, sent him three wide on the turn, and they prevailed by a neck after a head-and-head stretch battle. Scarecrow paid $9 after getting the distance in 1:43.44 and earned a healthy check for $59,700, boosting his total to $112,710 on a record of 2-0-2 in five starts.

In 38 days, Neolithic has racked up 2025 progeny earnings of $246,821.

Neophyte sends Neolithic over $6 million

Neolithic’s march to the $6 million mark in career progeny earnings was achieved over the weekend, led by Neophyte, a 6-year-old gelding bred by SCF Inc. who has won two of his last three starts.

Neophyte became his sire’s eighth winner of 2025, scoring a neck victory in a five-furlong race over the Tapeta surface at Gulfstream Park. With Edgard Zayas in the saddle, the gelding followed closely behind a hot pace of :21.40 and :43.78, and was up in time to win in :56.15. He paid $9.60 and picked up a check for $15,000, raising his career total to $154,327 on a record of 5-6-9 in 30 starts.

Neolithic’s progeny earnings now total $6,016,933.

At Camarero Race Track in Puerto Rico, The Mole Baby boosted her record to 2-1-1 in six starts with a 2 1/2-length score going six furlongs over a sloppy track. The 3-year-old Kentucky-bred Gunnevera filly paid $7.10, was clocked in 1:12.60 and boosted her earnings to $10,160. She was claimed out of the race.

Bodexpress returns, Hot Girl Walk scores

Bodexpress is back!

The son of Bodemeister has returned to Pleasant Acres after his first crop produced eight winners and progeny earnings of $395,658. Among his winners is recent stakes-winner Hot Girl Walk, a California-bred filly owned and bred by Richard Barton Enterprises who captured the $100,000 Generous Portion Stakes at Santa Anita, receiving an Equibase ‘E’ speed figure of 83.

Antonio Fresu was in the saddle and he placed his filly third down the backstretch in the race at six furlongs. She moved at the leaders on the turn, took over entering the stretch, and drew off with ease. She was geared down nearing the wire and won by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:11.28. Hot Girl Walk paid $13, earned a check for $57,000, and raised her total to $117,500 on a record of 2-1-0 in four starts.

Carroll’s Honor Coasts to 2nd victory in three tries

The first 2025 winner for Curlin’s Honor is Carroll’s Honor, a 3-year-old filly owned and bred by Donald L. Ming who made it two victories in three starts with a rail-skimming beauty under Israel Rodriguez at Tampa Bay Downs.

In the race at six furlongs, Rodriguez was able to get good position along the inside with Carroll’s Honor, who moved into a contending position heading into the turn, swung to the three path for the run to the wire, and drew off by nearly four lengths late, getting the distance in 1:11.88. She paid $5.80 and collected $17,350, bringing her three-race total to $33,770.

Neolithic Nearing $6 Million in Earnings

Ater 20 starts in South Florida, resulting in three victories at Tampa Bay Downs and one at Gulfstream Park, Big Bucksalot made his next appearance in a new barn on Tuesday at Mahoning Valley – seven months later – and notched victory No. 5.

Now racing in the colors of owner/trainer Jay Bernardini, the 5-year-old gelding became Neolithic’s sixth January winner, and the check for $7,260 increased his sire’s career progeny earnings to $5,983,734, with $6 million a virtual certainty in a matter of days.

Angel Diaz was aboard for the Mahoning Valley score, which came in a race at six furlongs. Diaz sent Big Bucksalot up for the lead and they were in front after a quarter in :22.62. The gelding was pressed the rest of the way, and after posting a half in :45.53, he drew off late to win by 3 1/4 lengths, clocked in 1:11 flat and paying $5.80. He’s now 5-1-2 in 21 starts with earnings of $67,555.

It was all Pleasant Acres in $54,000 Gulfstream allowance

It was all Pleasant Acres in a $54,000 allowance test at Gulfstream Park on Thursday. The winner was Neoequos, a highly-promising 3-year-old colt by Neolithic bred by Joe and Helen Barbazon in partnership with Matalona Thoroughbreds. The runner-up was Latch the Hatch, a son of Curlin’s Honor.

Neoequos came into the race after strong seconds behind Rated By Merit in the Affirmed Stakes and the Dr. Fager, and was sent off at odds of 1 to 5 under Drayden Van Dyke. He took the lead at the outset, posted fractions of :22.41, :45.61 and :57.92 over the sloppy surface, and was 3 1/2 lengths in front at the wire in a clocking of 1:10.98. The $22,000 OBS October yearling paid $2.40 and earned a check for $32,400, increasing his 5-race total to $137,800.

(1) The Neolithic – Curlin’s Honor exacta paid $8.60. (2) Latch the Hatch earned $11,880 for second. (3) Neolithic is just $34,000 short of the $6 million mark in career progeny earnings.

Ladys Chant is Neolithic’s 4th January winner

After finishing a strong second on the 2024 Florida general sire list, Neolithic has gotten off to a good start in 2025, with Ladys Chant breaking her maiden and becoming January winner No. 4 at Tampa Bay Downs.

Ladys Chant had finished third in her previous two tries, and the 4-year-old filly owned and bred by Martin and Emily Goodell was bet down to even-money favoritism in a race at a mile and 40 yards. Ronnie Allen Jr. was in the saddle – he had been aboard two races back, getting her home third at odds of 26-1, beaten less than a length. She was off well from the rail, raced close-up down the backstretch, made her move on the turn, then won a three-way battle down the lane to win by a neck.

Ladys Chant earned a check for $10,250, boosting her total to $36,005 on a record of 1-3-6 in 15 starts. She received an Equibase ‘E’ speed figure of 68, best of her 15 races.