Neat delivered a blistering turn of foot at the top of the lane en route to a comfortable score in the June 29 $242,500 Manila Stakes (G3T) at the Belmont at the Big A meet.
Trained by Rob Atras for Randy Gullatt's Red White and Blue Racing partnership, Neat returned to the winner's circle for the third time this season after bagging victories in Keeneland's Transylvania Stakes (G3T) and the Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park. The 3-year-old son of Constitution has won five of seven career starts on the turf, finishing off the board only in his maiden effort at Kentucky Downs last fall and the American Turf Stakes (G2T) at Churchill Downs May 4.
Sent off as the 2-1 second choice in a field reduced to five with the scratch of Mattingly, Neat and jockey Junior Alvarado sat a stalking trip behind slow early splits of :24.63 and :49.49. Full of horse turning for home, Alvarado angled Neat into the clear and the colt exploded over the Aqueduct turf, roaring past the pacesetting Drunk On Sake and opening up a commanding lead in midstretch.
"I'm just super proud of the effort from this horse and Rob for being so patient waiting for a spot like this," Gullatt said. "The horse showed up and it was just super impressive for all of our partners. I'm just super happy with how the horse is progressing."
Gotham Stakes (G3) winner Deterministic, making his turf debut for trainer Christophe Clement, found his momentum late and rallied but could not catch Neat. The winner held safe by three-quarters of a length under the wire in a final time of 1:36.27 on a firm turf course
Deterministic's rider Dylan Davis said his mount handled the turf well but that the race was a learning experience.
"He broke well and I let him get comfortable and figure out the turf. We got into a nice rhythm, but they kind of jumped away from him in the middle of the turn," Davis said. "I had to really get him under a drive, I couldn't wait too much. After that he was coming, switching his leads a few times in the stretch, everything was new out there. He galloped out in front which was nice, maybe he wants more ground in the future."
Neat returned $6.40 for a $2 win ticket.
Move to Gold completed the trifecta.
