Neolithic faces four in Gr. 1 Woodward Stakes

Neolithic, part-owned by Qatar Racing, will line up as a threat to Gun Runner in the Gr. 1 Woodward Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (off 23:46 GMT) over nine furlongs on dirt at Saratoga on Saturday.

Qatar Racing bought into Neolithic before he finished a fantastic third in the Gr. 1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan in March, and he made his first start since a winning one when getting up late in an allowance optional claimer at this track in early-August. The race was over seven furlongs and Neolithic will definitely be suited by going back up in trip.

Neolithic came out of his reappearance run in good shape according to his trainer Todd Pletcher, who has won three of the last 10 renewals of the Woodward with Lawyer Ron, Quality Road and Liam's Map. Bidding for his first win in the race will be Jose Ortiz, who rides Neolithic for the first time.

Neolithic has won three of his 10 starts and also finished third in the Gr. 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes at Gulfstream Park in January, the richest horse race in the world with a purse of $12 million. He is by Harlan's Holiday, the sire of young stallions Majesticperfection, Into Mischief and Shanghai Bobby, out of the US Stakes winner Swingit, and was picked out as a potential stallion prospect by Sheikh Fahad.

Neolithic will have to do without his regalar rider Johnny Velazquez in the Woodward as he partners the other Pletcher runner, Rally Cry. The favourite will be Gun Runner who has taken his Gr. 1 tally to three with wins in the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs in June and the Whitney Stakes over this course and distance on the same card as Neolithic's return success. He'd also previously finished a place ahead of Neolithic in the Dubai World Cup. Completing the field are Discreet Lover and War Story, the only runner who isn't a four-year-old old colt (he's a five-year-old gelding).