Neck 'n Neck Edges Majestic Harbor at Parx
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Ted Mitzlaff's Neck 'n Neck just got up in the final strides to take the $200,000 Greenwood Cup (gr. III) Sept. 7 from Parx Racing.
Trading the lead with Majestic Harbor throughout in the mile-and-a-half race, Neck 'n Neck got past that rival in deep stretch to post his sixth career win from 28 starts. The victory snapped a 13-race losing streak for the 6-year-old horse, who hadn't won since taking the 2012 Ack Ack Handicap at Churchill Downs.
Sent off as the 8-5 favorite, Neck 'n Neck raced in second behind Majestic Harbor before jockey Paco Lopez sent the 6-year-old to the lead after a half-mile was run in :50.58. The lead didn't last long as Corey Lanerie, aboard Majestic Harbor, quickly took back the lead after running six furlongs in 1:16.31. Majestic Harbor held the lead turning for home with Neck 'n Neck in hot pursuit, wearing down Majestic Harbor in deep stretch to prevail by a half-length.
The final time for the mile-and-a-half went in 2:33.64 over the main track that was labeled fast.
Neck 'n Neck returned $5.40 to win, $3.40 to place and $2.60 to show as the favorite in the field of eight.
Majestic Harbor paid $4.20 to place and $3 to show, while For Greater Glory rallied from fifth to take third, returned $3.20 to show.
Desvelo got up to be fourth and was followed out by Our Caravan, Waynesborough, Turco Bravo, and Indian Jones.
Neck 'n Neck is a 6-year-old son of Flower Alley out of the mare Bootery, and was bred in Kentucky by A. Stevens Miles Jr.
After losing the first three starts of his career, Neck 'n Neck broke his maiden on Nov. 26, 2011 at Churchill Downs for trainer Ian Wilkes.
His best season came in 2012 when he won four of 10 starts for Wilkes, including three stakes—the Matt Winn Stakes (gr. III), the Indiana Derby (gr. II), and the Ack Ack Handicap.
Neck 'n Neck fractured a sesamoid in November of 2012 while preparing for a start in the Clark Handicap (gr. I). He underwent successful surgery but only started twice in 2013 and just three times in 2014.
The Greenwood Cup was his ninth start of this year and his first victory, pushing his career earnings to $965,962.