More Than Ready mare Neck of the Moon saved her best for last with a game victory in the Listed South Beach Stakes (1500m) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.

Neck of the Moon (6m More Than Ready – Cotopaxi by With Approval) is due to be retired by Kentucky-based owners Hidden Brook Farm in time to be covered in 2017.

Before bowing out, she became the 167th stakes winner by More Than Ready in a $100,000 feature for mares in Florida.  It was also the third black-type winner in 24 hours for Vinery’s champion sire following Readytogorightnow (South Africa) and Perfect Reflection (Australia).

“She’s fired nearly every time I’ve run her this year and has hit the board in three stakes races,” trainer Chad Brown said of the consistent grey mare.  “She likes to get to the outside in a big field and it played that way, today.  I’m really proud of her effort.

“I’m not sure if she will run again or not.  I will speak to Hidden Brook and see what happens.”

Ultra-consistent throughout her career, Neck of the Moon has earned $402,300 since being knocked down for $60,000 as a foal at the 2010 Keeneland November Sale.  Her dam Cotopaxi (USA) was stakes placed at Fontainebleau and, when transferred to trainer Julio Canani, added more lower-case black-type at Del Mar and Santa Anita.

The South Beach prizemoney helped More Than Ready break $7 million in North American earnings this year.  He has sired 112 individual winners with chief earner Tom’s Ready a signature winner of the G2 Woody Stephens Stakes (1400m) at Belmont Park.

NECK OF THE MOON