Klaravich Stables' Neural Network earned a career-best 75 Beyer Speed Figure in Saturday's $100,000 Gander, a one-mile test for New York-bred sophomores, where he was elevated to victory after crossing the wire second to a drifting Maker's Candy.
The son of Cloud Computing rated in fourth and stalked the pace set by D'ont Lose Cruz down the backstretch and was kept wide by jockey Manny Franco to make his bid for the lead at the top of the lane. The Jose Gomez-piloted Maker's Candy pounced from second position to take command from D'ont Lose Cruz at the eighth pole with Neural Network gaining with every stride to his outside. Maker's Candy drifted out in the late stages and impeded Neural Network's path, crossing the wire first but subsequently disqualified and placed second for interference.
It was the first stakes victory for Neural Network, who entered from a distant fourth-place finish in the Jerome against open company on January 7 over the same course and distance. There, he trailed in last-of-7 at the half-mile call and made a mild bid to be defeated 9 1/4 lengths by Lugan Knight.
“He ran very well and obviously he was herded out in the lane and the right call was made,” said Brown of the Gander. “It's nice to get him back on track.”
The Gander was Neural Network's first start with blinkers, something Brown said was key to his improvement.
“We've always thought a lot of this horse and it was uncharacteristic of him last time,” said Brown. “He was uninterested that day and didn't care for how the track was. We put a little blinker on him and he seemed to work a little sharper in his works.”
Brown added he will take his time in choosing a next start for the dark bay colt, but noted that the nine-furlong $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2) on April 8 is, “not out of the question.”
“I have no plans yet for him, but we'll see how he trains moving forward,” said Brown.
A $120,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale purchase from consignor Legacy Bloodstock, Neural Network is out of the Street Cry mare Lapinski, a half sister to stakes winner Sunset Wish. He now boasts a 2-0-0 record from three career stats and $102,500 in total purse earnings.
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