Chelsea Durand Photo

Neat posts tidy score in G3 Manila

by Mary Eddy

Red White and Blue Racing’s Neat stalked and pounced to a driving three-quarter-length score in Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Manila, a one-mile inner turf test for sophomores, at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by Rob Atras and guided to victory by Junior Alvarado, the Constitution chestnut rebounded from a distant seventh in the Grade 2 American Turf last out on May 4 at Churchill Downs to notch his second career graded score in the Manila, adding to a gutsy win two starts back in the Grade 3 Transylvania in April at Keeneland.

"We were expecting for him to run a big race, but you like to see it,” said Atras. “We were really hoping for this effort. We gave him a little time. We passed on the Penn [Mile] off the Churchill race - I don't like to give too many excuses; it just wasn't his day [in the American Turf]. Today, he was nice and calm and got a perfect trip. Perfect ride by Junior and he ran like we thought he would.”

Neat emerged cleanly from post 2 as Drunk On Sake hopped at the start and missed the break, but rushed up under Silvestre Gonzalez to take command through the first turn and mark an opening quarter-mile in 24.63 seconds over the firm footing with Neat tracking in second.

The Manny Franco-piloted Move to Gold improved position to third along the inside down the backstretch as post-time favorite Deterministic, who made his turf debut for trainer Chirstophe Clement, remained patient in fourth with Drunk On Sake marking the half-mile in 49.49. Rounding the turn, both Neat and Move to Gold were given their cues and loomed large behind a tiring Drunk On Sake while Deterministic followed the run of Neat.

Drunk On Sake relinquished the lead to Move to Gold to his inside at the top of the stretch after three quarters in 1:13.51 while Neat gained with every stride on the outside and Deterministic was angled out to make his bid under Dylan Davis. Move to Gold battled on gamely, but Neat proved superior in the lane and inched clear to post the score in a final time of 1:36.27 as Deterministic found his best stride late for place.

The Chad Brown-trained Move to Gold held third 2 1/2 lengths behind Deterministic with Please Advise, who was last down the backstretch, coming on late for fourth. Drunk On Sake completed the order of finished. Mattingly was scratched.

Atras said he was pleased to see Neat show determination in the lane.

"Manny cut the corner and the race was on, but luckily we had a really good turn-of-foot today and Junior had horse. The six, Deterministic, came with a late run and he was coming, so I'm glad the wire got there in time,” Atras said, with a laugh. “I thought we ran awesome - that's a good horse [Deterministic] and so is Chad's - we beat good horses today. It's nice to do that."

Alvarado said he rode the break after the last-out pacesetting maiden claiming winner Drunk On Sake was off slowly.

"I knew that he [Drunk On Sake] was probably going to be the fast horse but then he didn't break. So I thought, OK, maybe I'll go and go very easy on the lead. Then I saw his move on the outside, but I think with him [Neat] we were kind of trying to make sure he didn't fight too much,” Alvarado explained. “I watched a couple of the races and every time he gets a little keen and wants to throw his head. So, I was just making sure he got a nice comfortable rhythm today and he did that for me. From the quarter-pole to the wire when I asked him for a run, he was all-out there for me."

Bred in Kentucky by Hidden Brook Farm and Spruce Lane Farm, Neat was a $200,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale and is out of the unraced More Than Ready mare Orabella, who also produced dual graded stakes-placed Louder Than Bombs. Neat banked $137,500 in victory and improved his lifetime record to 8-5-0-0, which also includes a win in the Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile in January at Sam Houston Race Park. He returned $6.40 on a $2 win ticket.

Atras added he will take his time in deciding a next start for Neat, with the Grade 2, $500,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame on August 2 at Saratoga Race Course a potential target.

"I can't say yet. You know me, I'm race-to-race,” said Atras. “I'd like to keep him around the mile to mile and a sixteenth distance. We'll see how he comes out. We're learning more and more all the time with the horse. Maybe 28-29 days was a little too quick, we'll see what's out there."

Deterministic, winner of the Grade 3 Gotham on dirt here in April, improved from two off-the-board efforts at the Big A in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino and Grade 3 Peter Pan on the main track.

Davis, aboard for the first time in the afternoon, said he was pleased with how the son of Liam’s Map handled the turf.

"He broke well and I let him get comfortable and figure out the turf,” said Davis. “We got into a nice rhythm, but they kind of jumped away from him in the middle of the turn. 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."

Live racing resumes Sunday at the Big A with a nine-race card. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

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