The Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby is the final stop on Gulfstream Park’s Road to Kentucky Derby 2025. With 100-50-25-15-10 for the top five finishers, the Florida Derby hero and possibly the second-place finisher will reserve a spot in Churchill's starting gate on May 3.
Saturday's (March 29) 1 1/8-mile contest attracted 10, 3-year-old colts and geldings, including the Foutain of Youth (G2) hero Sovereignty and third-place finisher Neoequos, plus Tappen Street and Madaket Road, runners up in the Holy Bull (G3) and Rebel (G2), respectively.
Neoequos is part-owned by local owner, trainer and breeder, Ian Parsard, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr with Edgard Zayas in the saddle.
Below is a breakdown of Neoequos done by horseracingnation.com.
Neoequos performed adequately in his first start around two turns and in open company in the Fountain of Youth (G2). He set the early pace but was overtaken in mid-stretch by River Thames and then Sovereignty. Saffie Joseph Jr.'s charge improved his Brisnet Speed Rating by four points to 96, but his last two late-pace figures are in the high 80s. Neoequos was asked to rate in his last two works. He rated kindly and passed under a hand ride both times. In his second-to-last five-furlong breeze in 58.9 seconds, Neoequos and his mate had to go around a horse in front. Neoequos took it in stride. He took aim and gained ground on the horse in front of them before being shut down for the gallop out. Neoequos has the pedigree to handle 1 1/8 miles. Race Lens shows his sire Neolithic has a winner and runner-up from three starters at 1 1/8 miles. Neoequos is out of the stakes-placed Birdstone mare, Bold Birdie. The black type in this family comprises of Canadian listed sprinter-milers. Neoequos has speed on the rail, and Joseph indicated Neoequos will go to the lead and stay there as long as they can.
Neoequos was a pass in the Fountain of Youth. He had an excellent record entering that race but had nearly exclusively run in Florida-bred sprints. With a jock change to Irad Ortiz Jr., Neoequos took the early lead in the Fountain of Youth and tried his best to wire the field. He put in a gallant effort to end up getting passed late while holding third, beaten by only 2 3/4 lengths for it all. The colt will get another rider change to Edgard Zayas as Ortiz opts to rider Disruptor instead. Neoequos will have the ground-saving rail advantage, but he couldn't hang on in the Fountain of Youth and will have to go an extra sixteenth here.
