Indiana Downs: Neck ’n Neck begins comeback in Schaefer Memorial

A year ago, Neck ’ n Neck captured the Indiana Derby in the midst of a career upswing. The colt returns to the Hoosier State on Saturday, but this time will be making his first start in nearly a year after injury halted his season in its tracks.

A 4-year-old Flower Alley colt who races for his breeder, A. Steven Miles Jr., Neck ‘n Neck is part of a strong field for the $100,000 Michael G. Schaefer Memorial Stakes, one of seven stakes races preceding the Grade 2 Indiana Derby and Grade 2 Indiana Oaks. The stakes-rich program moves from Hoosier Park to Indiana Downs this year.

Neck ’ n Neck, who captured the Grade 3 Matt Winn Stakes in June 2012 at Churchill Downs, blossomed that fall, winning the Indiana Derby before returning to Churchill to take the Grade 3 Ack Ack Handicap. His momentum was halted when he suffered a fractured sesamoid while training for the Clark Handicap at Churchill, necessitating surgery and sending him to the sidelines.

Trainer Ian Wilkes said there were not any suitable races for Neck ’n Neck at the recently concluded Churchill Downs September meet and, “ I didn’t want to wait for the Churchill Downs fall meet,” he said. “The thing is to kick the rust off and to get him back into doing things.”

Neck ’ n Neck has been working steadily at Churchill and has turned in five consecutive five-furlong moves, the most recent a 1:01.40 breeze on Sept. 28.

“We’re very pleased with how he’s doing,” Wilkes said.

Neck ’ n Neck drew post 6 in the field of 12 for the mile-and-70-yard Schaefer and Brian Hernandez Jr. will ride.

Seruni returns to dirt in the Schaefer for the first time since winning an optional claiming event at 1 1/16 miles April 30 at Churchill Downs. The Saint Liam gelding, trained by Victoria Oliver, made his most recent start on turf at Churchill, finishing third behind reigning Horse of the Year Wise Dan over a boggy course in the Grade 2 Firecracker Handicap on June 29.

Taptowne, trained by Tim Glyshaw, comes in off a runner-up effort in the Ack Ack on Sept. 7 at Churchill Downs.

Eight-year-old Rail Trip, winner of the 2009 Hollywood Gold Cup, ships in from California seeking his first victory since July 2012 for trainer Ron Ellis. The millionaire is unplaced in two outings this season.

Grade 3 winner It Happened Again is 2 for 2 at Indiana Downs. The field includes stakes winners Sabercat, Bernie the Maestro, Good Lord, Decisive Moment, and Nikki’s Sandcastle.

◗ One race earlier, Wilkes sends out Magic Hour in the $100,000 Mari Hulman George Stakes, at 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares. Janis Whitham’s stakes-winning homebred most recently finished second in the Grade 3 Gardenia Stakes at Ellis Park. Champion Groupie Doll was third.

“This filly seems to be improving,” Wilkes said. “She’s had to mature a little bit.”

Leandro Goncalves rides Magic Hour from post 8.

Morning-likne favorite is the entry of Don’t Tell Sophia and Trans Continental, both trained by Philip Sims, Don’t Tell Sophia was a multiple stakes winner at Oaklawn Park earlier this year, finishing third in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom in her most recent outing.

◗ The prospects in the $65,000 Ta Wee Stakes, for fillies going a mile on turf, include American Sugar, a four-time stakes winner. However, the Ken McPeek trainee is trying turf for just the second time after finishing seventh in the Northbound Pride Oaks on Aug. 3.

Indiana-breds in spotlight

The Indiana Derby undercard features four $85,000 stakes for Indiana-bred or -sired horses. Five Indiana champions of 2012 are entered, including reigning Horse of the Year Ain’t She a Saint in the Richmond Stakes. All of the champions, however, are trying to recapture last season’s form. Defending Richmond winner Ain’t She a Saint is winless in three starts this year for Sherri and Jeff Greenhill, with her best effort a second in the Florence Henderson Stakes at Indiana.

The Gus Grissom Stakes could feature as many as three Indiana champions. The defending winner is Unreachable Star, last season’s top Indiana-sired older horse. He won the William Henry Harrison Stakes in his season debut but is winless since. Hard Luck Monk, 2012 champion Indiana-sired 3-year-old, is unplaced in three outings this year.

Dread the Pirate, 2012 champion Indiana-sired 2-year-old, could face his elders in the Gus Grissom but is cross-entered in the male division of the Hoosier Breeders’ Sophomore Stakes. The female division of the Sophomore Stakes includes Higher Logic, champion Indiana-sired 2-year-old filly.