Blinkers back on for Neck ‘n Neck in Flat Out Stakes
ELMONT, N.Y. – Neck ‘n Neck was running well but just wasn’t winning. So, going into his last start, the Grade 3 Ben Ali Stakes at Keeneland, trainer Ian Wilkes opted to remove the blinkers that the 7-year-old had worn in his previous 26 starts.
The move backfired as Neck ‘n Neck finished fifth, ending a string of six consecutive finishes in the money. On Sunday, Neck ‘n Neck will have his blinkers back on while stretching out to 1 3/8 miles in the inaugural running of the $100,000 Flat Out Stakes.
The Flat Out is one of three new marathon stakes the New York Racing Association has added to this year’s Belmont Park spring/summer meet. The Flat Out serves as a prep for the Grade 2, $400,000 Brooklyn going 1 1/2 miles on June 11.
Neck ‘n Neck, a four-time graded stakes winner, has only one win in the last 41 months, but that win came going 1 1/2 miles last September in the Grade 3 Greenwood Cup at Parx. Neck ‘n Neck finished third in the Grade 2 Marathon at Keeneland and was second in the Grade 2 Hawthorne Gold Cup to end his 6-year-old season.
He began his 7-year-old season with a second-place finish in the Challenger Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs before having his blinkers removed for the Ben Ali.
“I didn’t think he needed them anymore,” Wilkes said. “He had them on his whole life, and I thought he was doing everything so much more professional. Obviously, in the race, he wasn’t the same horse, wasn’t focused the way he should have been.”
Turco Bravo has only won twice in this country, with both wins coming in the Stymie Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile race on Aqueduct’s inner track. He did finish second in last year’s Birdstone Stakes, a 1 3/4-mile race at Saratoga.
Catholic Cowboy, Winter Games, Securitiz, and Elnaawi complete the field.
Flat Out, Race 8
KEY CONTENDERS
Neck ‘n Neck, by Flower Alley
Last 3 Beyers: 88-92-97
◗ He’s a four-time graded stakes winner, including a victory going 1 1/2 miles last Labor Day in the Greenwood Cup.
◗ Traded placings with Majestic Harbor in two stakes last fall, with each alternating seconds and thirds in a pair of graded stakes. Majestic Harbor won last week’s Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Turco Bravo, by Caesarion
Last 3 Beyers: 93-97-90
◗ In each of the last two years, he has won the Stymie as the longest price on the board. Most recently, he finished third in the Grade 3 Excelsior behind Kid Cruz.
“He’s training really good,” trainer Gary Contessa said. “I love what I’m seeing from that horse. I just think the more distance, the better.”
◗ Javier Castellano picks up the mount.
Catholic Cowboy, by Heatseeker
Last 3 Beyers: 90-89-85
◗ Tries 1 3/8 miles for the first time but did win the 2014 Claiming Crown Jewel over Page McKenney going 1 1/8 miles.
◗ Has won his last two, both going 1 1/16 miles.
“He’s at the top of his game,” trainer Nick Zito said. “I thought it was a decent spot. I’m a little bit concerned about the distance but not overly concerned.”