Neat Seeks Grade 2 Win in Hall of Fame Stakes

The first time Neat  tackled a grade 2 turf stakes, it did not go as planned. 

The 3-year-old son of Constitution   suffered a wide trip in a field of 14 and wound up seventh in the May 4 American Turf Stakes (G2T).

His second try should be more productive.

Owned by Red White and Blue Racing and trained by Rob Atras, Neat will face seven rivals in the $500,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2T) for 3-year-olds Aug. 2 at Saratoga Race Course.

The American Turf was a rare off day for the son of the More Than Ready mare Orabella, who has won five of eight career starts. Yet the numbers pertinent to Friday's mile stakes on the inner turf course are even better than that.

In six starts around two turns on the turf, Neat has a nifty five wins, including a pair of grade 3 victories. The lone blemish is the American Turf.

Following the American Turf, Neat reverted to winning form with a victory by a little less than a length in the June 29 Manila Stakes (G3T) at Aqueduct Racetrack.

"He's developed mentally and physically. Since he's been in training early last summer, he's just gone from a boy to a man," said Atras. "He's gotten bigger and stronger, and his last race at Aqueduct was a much more professional effort."

In his two other 2024 starts. Neat captured the Transylvania Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland and the Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park.

A half brother to the multiple grade 3-placed Louder Than Bombs  (Violence  ), Neat was bought for $200,000 from the Lisa and Tim Turney consignment at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He was bred by Hidden Brook Farm and Spruce Lane Farm in Kentucky.

His Royal Highness Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud's Lagynos  was third in the 1 1/16-mile Transylvania, just a half-length behind Neat. He followed that up with a rallying third in the American Turf. 

Trained by all-time wins leader Steve Asmussen, most recently the Kantharos   colt was fourth in the June 29 American Derby at Churchill Downs and second in the June 1 Audubon Stakes, also at Churchill Downs.

Qatar Racing's Army Officer  already owns a win over the Saratoga turf course this year. During the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at the Spa, he scored by a length in June 7 allowance optional claimer at a mile on the inner turf, the same conditions as Friday's stakes. Trained by Brad Cox, the son of Not This Time   will be making his stakes debut.

Three Diamond Farm's Buttercream Babe  also scored in an allowance optional claimer during Belmont week and will tackle the boys for the first time in her return to the Spa. The Mike Maker-trained daughter of Twirling Candy   prevailed June 8 against fillies at the Spa and then was second in the July 13 Horseshoe Indianapolis Handicap.

Zverev  makes his stakes debut for trainer Cherie DeVaux off a June 20 allowance win at Churchill Downs. The son of Oscar Performance   is owned by Belladonna Racing, Peachtree Stable, Twin Brook Stables, and West Point Thoroughbreds.