Susie Raisher Photo

Nice and “Neat” in G2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame

by Christian Abdo

Red White and Blue Racing’s Neat was orderly when coming with a late surge to win Friday’s Grade 2, $500,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame, a one-mile inner turf test for sophomores, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Rob Atras, the Constitution chestnut leveled up from a pair of Grade 3 scores this year, including the one-mile Manila in June at Belmont at the Big A and the 1 1/16-mile Transylvania in April over good Keeneland turf.

Atras said he will cherish this graded stakes victory at the Spa.

“It means a lot here at Saratoga. All the owners came out. He’s a nice colt and he’s won multiple stakes, but this is the top one,” said Atras. “Being here at Saratoga and winning here means a lot.”

Piloted by Junior Alvarado, Neat broke alertly from post 4 as Barksdale shot to the front from post 7 with Army Officer joining the fray after breaking a beat slowly. Barksdale held a one-length advantage to lead the field through an opening quarter-mile in 24.42 seconds over the firm turf.

Alvarado was content to travel in sixth position outside of Please Advise behind Buttercream Babe and the Cristian Torres-piloted Lagynos, who stalked the front pair through a half-mile in 49.38.

Around the far turn, Barksdale continued to hold off post-time favorite Army Officer but Lagynos presented an early challenge approaching the quarter-pole. Alvarado remained patient aboard Neat in fifth as three-quarters elapsed in 1:13.85.

At the top of the lane, Neat angled to the center of the course and took dead aim on Lagynos who put away a tiring Barksdale and Army Officer to assume command at the stretch call.

Neat surged down the center of the course in pursuit of a game Lagynos as the filly Buttercream Babe dove to the inside of that rival after seven-eighths in 1:25.01.

In the final sixteenth, Alvarado’s move proved best, as Neat crossed the wire a neck better than Lagynos in a final time of 1:36.38.

“When I turned for home, I tipped him out and he was so game he kept fighting and grinding and kept going after the horse in front,” Alvarado said. “Eventually, he put his head in front right in front of the wire. I love this horse. He is my kind of horse - you can feel he has the fire to win.”

Buttercream Babe was a neck back for show-honors. Please Advise, Crystal Quest, Zverev, Army Officer, and Barksdale completed the order of finish.

Atras said the move was reflective of Neat’s determination and growth.

“He doesn’t have 100 Beyers but he shows up every time. He’s one of those horses that is improving,” said Atras. “Mentally, he’s getting better, and he seems more dialed in every race. He runs more professional.”

Torres said the Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen-trained Lagynos was game in his fourth on-the-board finish in seven starts this year.

“When we got to the quarter-pole, I knew someone was close to me, so I tried to run away from them and he responded really well. We just got beat,” said Torres, who piloted Lagynos to a half-length third to Neat in the Transylvania. “He ran an awesome race. He’s improving and getting better and better, no matter the distance he runs, with each race.”

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.

He banked $275,000 in victory while improving his record to 9-6-0-0 and returning $9 for a $2 win bet.

Live racing resumes Saturday at Saratoga for the lucrative Whitney Day program, featuring the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney – a “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in November at Del Mar – in Race 11. The 13-race program is supported by the Grade 1, $500,000 Test presented by Ticketmaster in Race 8, the Grade 1, $600,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational in Race 7, and the Grade 2, $300,000 Troy in Race 10 and the Listed $135,000 Fasig-Tipton Lure in Race 9. First post is 12:05 p.m. Eastern.

Saratoga Live will present live coverage and analysis of the Saratoga Race Course summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Saratoga Race Course, and the best way to bet every race of the summer meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.