Not This Time

With the attendees in the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion at Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga sale barely able to control their applause, a Not This Time colt from the family of GI Travers Stakes winner Colonel John (Tiznow) brought $3.4 million from Donato Lanni, agent for Zedan Racing, midway through Monday's session. The dark bay, consigned as hip 72 by Nardelli Sales, agent, is a half-brother to 2019 GIII Schuylerville Stakes winner Comical (Into Mischief). Winning dam Kayce Ace is a full-sister to Colonel John, who also captured the GI Santa Anita Derby....

When people discuss Horse of the Year candidates, the name Next (Not This Time) almost never comes up. That's despite what is currently the most impressive winning streak and show of dominance in the sport. He's won eight of his last nine, all of them stakes, by a combined 81 3/4 lengths. On Sunday at Saratoga, he won the Birdstone Stakes, doing so while never appearing to do more than galloping across the track in what amounted to a paid workout. We haven't seen a horse like this for a...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Here is what's next at Saratoga Race Course. Next (Not This Time) is. The 6-year-old gelding is the best long-distance dirt horse in the country, and, on Sunday, he'll attempt to prove it again when he runs in the $150,000 listed Birdstone Stakes at the Spa. If you want to see it, get to Saratoga early. The Birdstone is race No. 2 and has a scheduled post time of 1:44 p.m. A field of five is entered in the 1 3/4-mile Birdstone and Next is the overwhelming 1-9...

7th-Ellis, $70,251, Msw, 7-29, 2yo, 6f, 1:11.97, my, 1 3/4 lengths. MESERO (c, 2, Not This Time--Lemon Liqueur {SP}, by Exchange Rate), a 5-1 shot, was away half a step slowly and raced near the back of the field as favored Snap Call (Volatile) pressed the pace three wide down the backstretch before settling just off the pace on the bend. Mesero began improving his position along the rail as the favorite settled just off the pace in third, but he was still some eight lengths back as the leaders...

7th-ELP, 71K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 3:52 p.m. EAST AVENUE (Medaglia d'Oro), a Godolphin homebred for Brendan Walsh, is the first foal out of an unraced Ghostzapper half-sister to Horse of the Year and MGISW Cody's Wish (Curlin). Second dam Dance Card, purchased by Godolphin as a 2-year-old for $750,000 and herself a Grade I winner, also produced MGSW Endorsed (Medaglia d'Oro) and SP Bocephus (Medaglia d'Oro). Lined up inside, Mesero (Not This Time) brought a tag of $535,000 for CJ Thoroughbreds and Della Nash at Keeneland September last year for...

7th-SAR, $100k, Msw, 2yo, 6 1/2f, post time: 3:54 p.m. ET INVICTUS (Into Mischief), the first foal from 2019 GI Kentucky Oaks and 2020 GI Ballerina Stakes winner Serengeti Empress (Alternation), cost China Horse Club, Siena Farm and WinStar Farm $1.2 million at last year's Keeneland September Sale, and the Jan. 29 produce carries the WinStar colors for this first go. The bay, bred on similar cross to this sire's Grade I winners Life Is Good and Practical Joke, has been made the 3-1 choice on the morning line for...

Cut the Dust (Not This Time) ran a hole in the wind on this unveiling and cruised home to the easiest of victories, earning a 'TDN Rising Star' nod in the process. Breaking well with the field and out to take command quickly, the chestnut was still in hand as he distanced himself from his rivals passing the three furlong pole after :22.48 and :45.29 splits. He had built up a six length lead turning for home and from there on, the question was how much he'd like to win...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - In the fall of every year, Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse is out on the recruiting trail. He looks for the best four-legged athletes he can find. He goes to Lexington to seek out young talent. If Thursday's sixth race at Saratoga Race Course-- a $100,000 maiden special weight at 5 1/2 furlongs on the Mellon Turf--is any indication, coach Casse may have found a couple of  blue chippers at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Tracy Farmer's Abientot (Not This Time) finished strongly to...

by Christina Bossinakis & Stefanie Grimm Lexington, KY--The onset of the yearling season every summer can be a bit of a worrisome time for many. With the yearlings that have been so painstakingly selected by Fasig-Tipton's team for its first yearling sale of the season, it can often be a bit unnerving whether things will go off without a hitch or not. And at the conclusion of Tuesday's yearling session, it appeared that it had. "It was a fantastic start to the 2024 yearling sales season," affirmed Fasig-Tipton President and...

Marathon specialist Next (Not This Time) made it five straight victories while successfully defending his title in Friday's 1 3/8-mile GII Brooklyn S. at the Big A. The 2-5 favorite stalked Drake's Passage (Tonalist) through a half mile in :49.29, took over under confident handling approaching the quarter pole and opened daylight in the stretch to win by 9 1/4 lengths. The gray completed his final eighth in a sensational :11.89. Crupi (Curlin) tagged Drake's Passage for second. "I always say that I don't know if the horse can do...

The Cloudy Dancer (GB) Flash Sale on Fasig-Tipton's Digital platform ended Friday afternoon with a bang as a bidding war stopped the clock at 2:04 pm with the mare sold for $430,000 to David Hutson. On June 20 of this year, Cloudy Dancer (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) 's second foal--Shareholder (Not This Time)--captured the G2 Norfolk Stakes for 2-year-olds at prestigious Royal Ascot to remain undefeated. His victory was the third fastest time in the last 40 years of the race's history. Cloudy Dancer's connections opted to offer her on...

It is the typically interesting opinion of John Sikura that "a stallion's genetic switch is either on or off." The quality and quantity of his books may affect his profile, but his potency (or otherwise) will be operative the day he covers his first mare. Sure enough, six Grade I winners to date for Not This Time all belong to his first two books, conceived at just $15,000. Whatever he might yet achieve with his upgraded mares, paying $135,000 last year and now $150,000, he did not need their help...