Neolithic Back Galloping After Respiratory Illness

The top-tier hierarchy of the male handicap division is well established with champion Arrogate the undisputed king and multiple grade 1 winner Gun Runner next in command and the main threat to the throne. 

In the aftermath of the world's two richest races, one could argue that Neolithic deserved to occupy that third slot. Unfortunately for the son of Harlan's Holiday, the toll of his last big run delayed his opportunity to lock in his status as part of the divisional upper echelon.

Lost in the aftermath of Arrogate's stirring rally past Gun Runner in the March 25 $10 million Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) was the pride bursting from the connections of Neolithic in the wake of his third-place finish in the 1 1/4-mile race. Where Arrogate is back on the worktab and Gun Runner is knocking off top-level wins with his Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) triumph last weekend, Neolithic was sidelined after contracting a respiratory illness on his trip back from Dubai.

Owned by Starlight Racing and Qatar Racing, the 4-year-old colt was given time off in Kentucky to recover from his ailment and is currently with trainer Todd Pletcher's string in Saratoga where he is expected to resume breezing in coming weeks, Starlight's Jack Wolf said June 23.

"I was actually over there in (Saratoga) the other day and he looks fine, he's carrying good flesh. He's back galloping but we gave him a good bit of time off because he got sick on the ship back (from Dubai)," Wolf said. "You know, you see (Gun Runner) back in one piece and winning grade 1s and we're still recuperating. It's just something that happened, but he's back in training now. I would say he could start breezing in a couple weeks."

Neolithic's effort in Dubai backed up the third-place run he previously put forth behind Arrogate in the $12 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 28. The Pegasus marked the dark bay colt's seasonal bow and first try against grade 1 company after ending his 3-year-old campaign with a nine-length win in an allowance race at Gulfstream last Dec. 14.

In his only other stakes try prior to this year, Neolithic finished second in the Discovery Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack last November. He has been able to hold his own against the world's best this season and his team is anxious to see what his full potential can realize.

"He's really overachieved what I thought he would be able to do in being able to run with those horses," Wolf said. "I think he's definitely a grade 1-caliber horse and we'll hopefully find that out later in the fall. If he continues to go forward, I wouldn't be surprised if we see him with a race by the first of September, something like that.

"Sometimes that time off can be a blessing in disguise."

Wolf added that should Neolithic come back well, there is a good chance he will be kept in training for his 5-year-old season with another crack at the Pegasus World Cup—which will carry a $16 million purse in 2018—as his early target.

"Oh sure, and we know he likes that (Gulfstream) course," Wolf said.

Bred by Edwin Anthony, Neolithic broke his maiden at Gulfstream in December 2015 and has two wins from nine starts with $2,109,028 in earnings.