Michael Foster's Next (Not This Time) has earned a host of fans with five straight wins in races 1 1/2 miles and over, most recently storming to a 9 3/4-length victory in the GII Brooklyn S. last Friday. Fans may be hoping to see the 6-year-old gelding cut back in distance for a chance to earn a spot in the Breeders' Cup in a race like the 'Win and You're In' GI Jockey Club Gold Cup, but trainer Doug Cowans plans to stick with what is working and will aim his charge at the 1 3/4-mile Birdstone Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 4. Next won that race by 11 3/4 lengths last year.
“That is the plan today: the Birdstone,” Cowans confirmed. “It is hard for me to take him away from something that he really likes to do. Maybe somewhere along the line I will be forced to. I don't see that many horses out there looking at the Birdstone, maybe if somehow the race doesn't go, we would look at the Jockey Club Gold Cup.”
Next earned a 109 Beyer Speed Figure with his second straight win in the Brooklyn Friday.
“That is a big number. You think the horse can't get any better and he just keeps on improving, showing up and getting bigger numbers every time,” said Cowans.
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