Belmont at Big A: Neat looks tidy with driving win in Manila

Neat stalked and pounced to a
driving, three-quarter-length score in Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Manila Stakes, a one-mile inner turf test for sophomores, at Belmont at the Big A.

Owned by Red White and Blue Racing, trained by Rob Atras and guided to victory by Júnior
Alvarado, the Constitution chestnut rebounded from a distant seventh in the American
Turf (G2) last out May 4 at Churchill Downs to notch his second career graded
score in the Manila, adding to a gutsy win two starts back in the Transylvania
(G3) in April at Keeneland.

Click here for Belmont at the Big A entries and results.

“We were expecting for him to run a big race, but you like
to see it,” Atras said. “We were really hoping for this effort. We gave him a
little time. We passed on the Penn (Mile) off the Churchill race. I don’t like
to give too many excuses. It just wasn’t his day (in the American Turf). Today
he was nice and calm and got a perfect trip. Perfect ride by Júnior, and he ran
like we thought he would.”

Neat emerged cleanly from post 2. Drunk On Sake hopped at
the start and missed the break but rushed up under Silvestre Gonzalez to take
command through the first turn and mark an opening quarter-mile in 24.63
seconds over the firm footing with Neat tracking in second.

Manny Franco-piloted Move to Gold improved position to third
along the inside up the backstretch as post-time favorite Deterministic, who
made his turf debut for trainer Christophe Clément, remained patient in fourth
with Drunk On Sake marking the half-mile in 49.49 seconds.

Rounding the turn, both Neat and Move to Gold were given
their cues and loomed large behind a tiring Drunk On Sake while Deterministic
followed the run of Neat. Drunk On Sake relinquished the lead to Move to Gold
to his inside at the top of the stretch after three quarters in 1:13.51. Neat
gained with every stride on the outside, and Deterministic was angled out to
make his bid under Dylan Davis.

Move to Gold battled on gamely, but Neat proved superior in
the lane and inched clear to post the score with a final time of 1:36.27 as
Deterministic found his best stride late for place. Chad Brown-trained Move to
Gold held third 2 1/2 lengths behind Deterministic with Please Advise, who was
last down the backstretch, coming on late for fourth. Drunk On Sake completed
the order of finish. Mattingly was scratched.

Atras said he was pleased to see Neat show determination in
the lane.

“Manny cut the corner, and the race was on, but luckily we
had a really good turn of foot today, and Júnior had horse. The 6 Deterministic
came with a late run, and he was coming, so I’m glad the wire got there in
time,” Atras said with a laugh. “I thought we ran awesome. (Deterministic) is a
good horse, and so is Chad’s. We beat good horses today.”

Bred in Kentucky by Hidden Brook Farm and Spruce Lane Farm,
Neat was a $200,000 purchase at the Keeneland September yearling sale and is
out of unraced More Than Ready mare Orabella, who also produced dual graded-stakes
placed Louder Than Bombs.

Neat banked $137,500 in victory and improved his lifetime
record to 8: 5-0-0, which also includes a win in the Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile
in January at Sam Houston Race Park. He returned $6.40 on a $2 win ticket.

Atras said he will take his time in deciding a next start
for Neat with the $500,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (G2) on
August 2 at Saratoga Race Course a potential target.

“I can’t say yet. You know me. I’m race to race,” Atras said.
“I’d like to keep him around the mile to mile-and-a-sixteenth distance. We’ll
see how he comes out. We’re learning more and more all the time with the horse.
Maybe 28-29 days was a little too quick. We’ll see what’s out there.”