Neoequos

Connections

Owner: C2 Racing Stable LLC, Parsard, Ian, Shining Stables LLC and Stefania Farms LLC
Breeders: Helen Barbazon, Joseph Barbazon &Matalona Thoroughbres,LLC
Trainer: Saffie Joseph
Jockey: Edgard Zayas

Neoequos: 2025 Kentucky Derby Contender Profile

Neoequos, a 3-year-old colt by Neolithic out of Bold Birdie, heads into the 2025 Kentucky Derby with placings in the Florida Derby (3rd, 1:49.27) and Fountain of Youth (3rd), earning 40 Derby points. With a pedigree featuring Harlan’s Holiday and Birdstone, Neoequos was on the also eligible list with one week to go before the Kentucky Derby. Now that the connections of Built are choosing to run in the G2 Pat Day Mile on the Derby undercard, Neoequos is in and looking to improve off his third place finish behind Tappan Street and Sovereignty in the Florida Derby.

Pedigree

Neoequos
├── Sire: Neolithic
│   ├── Sire: Harlan’s Holiday
│   └── Dam: Swingit (by Victory Gallop)
└── Dam: Bold Birdie
    ├── Sire: Birdstone
    └── Dam: On The Podium (by Bold Executive)

1st Generation Pedigree

• Sire: Neolithic
  Neolithic, a son of Harlan’s Holiday, raced from 2015 to 2017, earning $2,278,028 with wins in the 2017 Sunshine Millions Classic (1 1/8 miles, 1:46.80) and a 3rd in the 2017 Pegasus World Cup (G1) behind Arrogate. He’s a young sire standing in Florida, and Neoequos is one of his first stakes performers, with earnings of $179,050 and a record of 2-2-2 from 7 starts.
• Dam: Bold Birdie
  Bold Birdie, by Birdstone, raced modestly, earning $53,000 with 1 win in 10 starts. She’s a half-sister to stakes-placed runner Flying Bird and has produced Neoequos as her most notable foal. Her progeny show early speed, fitting her sire Birdstone’s influence.

2nd Generation Pedigree

• Neolithic’s Parents (Neoequos’s Paternal Grandparents)
  Neolithic’s sire is Harlan’s Holiday, as you confirmed, a son of Harlan who won the 2002 Florida Derby (G1) and Blue Grass Stakes (G1), earning $3,632,664, and finished 7th in the 2002 Kentucky Derby. A prolific sire, Harlan’s Holiday produced Shanghai Bobby (2012 champion 2-year-old) and Into Mischief, the sire of Tappan Street and Sovereignty. Neolithic’s dam is Swingit, by Victory Gallop, a stakes-placed mare who earned $115,000 and adds stamina to the pedigree—Victory Gallop won the 1998 Belmont Stakes.
• Bold Birdie’s Parents (Neoequos’s Maternal Grandparents)
  Bold Birdie’s sire is Birdstone, a son of Grindstone who won the 2004 Belmont Stakes (1 1/2 miles, 2:27.50) and Travers Stakes (G1), earning $1,575,600. Birdstone sired 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird and 2009 Belmont winner Summer Bird, showing his influence on classic-distance runners. Bold Birdie’s dam is On The Podium, by Bold Executive, a Canadian stakes winner who earned $250,000 and produced multiple winners, including Bold Birdie. Bold Executive, a sprint specialist, adds speed to the lineage.

Additional Notes on Neoequos’s Pedigree

• Paternal Line (Neolithic): Harlan’s Holiday, by Harlan, brings stakes-winning class—his Florida Derby win (1:48.80 for 1 1/8 miles) and progeny like Into Mischief show his influence on dirt runners. Swingit, by Victory Gallop, adds stamina—Victory Gallop’s Belmont win (2:30.20 for 1 1/2 miles) suggests Neoequos may handle longer distances, though his sprint-heavy resume raises questions .
• Maternal Line (Bold Birdie): Birdstone, by Grindstone, offers classic-distance ability—his Belmont win and siring Mine That Bird (2009 Derby winner, 2:02.66 for 1 1/4 miles) indicate Neoequos has the pedigree to stretch out. On The Podium, by Bold Executive, contributes speed—Bold Executive sired multiple sprint stakes winners, aligning with Neoequos’s early success at shorter distances.
• Pedigree Fit for the Derby: Neoequos’s pedigree blends speed and stamina. Harlan’s Holiday and Birdstone both produced classic-distance winners, suggesting he can handle 1 1/4 miles, but his front-running style and sprint-heavy record (best wins at 5-6 furlongs) raise doubts about his ability to carry speed over the Derby distance. His Florida Derby 3rd (1:49.27) shows he can compete at 1 1/8 miles, but he faded late, a concern for 10 furlongs.

Neoequos’s Race Record