Not This Time

This week shed tears of sadness as we bid farewell to a fan favorite, and enjoyed a tonic of elation as we regaled a historic riding double and the newest 'Star' on the horizon. Break out the tissues for the sensitive souls, and join us as we reminisce careers, and revere achievements. Botta Bing, Botta Swing--to Rising Stardom... If there was a louder and prouder way to declare one's talent to the world, 'TDN Rising Star' Botta Swing (Not This Time) came close to topping it. Continuing her sire's hot...

Hoolie Racing Stable and Bruce Lunsford's Botta Swing (Not This Time--Lady of the Glen, by Purim), taking on the boys while looking to carry her sire's hot streak into the juvenile ranks, came out running Sunday, earning 'TDN Rising Star' honors while lowering Woodbine's synthetic track record for 4 1/2 furlongs in the process. Away in midpack and then scrubbed on to take over with swift strides entering the bend, the chestnut was two clear and cruising midway on the turn as well-backed Ninetyfour Expos (Outwork) was asked to narrow...

Of the 1,630 stallions who covered mares in North America in 2018, a grand total of up to 34 could have starters in the respective gates of the upcoming GI Kentucky Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks (based on a maximum of 20 Derby starters and 14 Oaks starters). That's about a 2% chance. How remarkable is it, then, that this year we have not one, not two, but seven stallions with the potential to pull off a Derby-Oaks sire double, something that hasn't been done since Native Dancer sired the...

Fasig-Tipton has catalogued 23 entries for its April Digital Selected Sale. Bidding is now officially open and will close this Tuesday, Apr. 26, at 2 pm. The catalogue, which may now be viewed at digital.fasigtipton.com, consists of horses of racing age and breeding stock. Entries catalogued include: Time Sensitive (Hip 1): 4-year-old daughter of Nyquist is a half-sister to recent GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. winner Tawny Port (Pioneerof the Nile). Topo Grigio (Hip 2): Winning daughter of multiple graded stakes winner Summer Wind Dancer is believed to be in foal...

Tami Bobo's Simplification (Not This Time) breezed five-furlongs in 1:01.83 Friday morning at Gulfstream Park in preparation for a scheduled start in the May 7 GI Kentucky Derby. It was the GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. winner's first work since finishing third in the GI Curlin Florida Derby Apr. 2. Junior Alvarado was aboard for the breeze, subbing for jockey Jose Ortiz. "He galloped out six furlongs in 1:15.3, the seven furlongs in 1:27 and the mile in 1:40," trainer Antonio Sano said. "Excellent. I'm so happy with my...

It's last call for many in Keeneland's GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. as the race to solidify, or sneak into, the GI Kentucky Derby starting gate enters the final furlong. In Due Time (Not This Time) heads this field with an ever-improving resume in both distance and class. A debut winner in the mud at Monmouth last summer, the chestnut was shelved for six months, resurfacing with a third in a Gulfstream optional claimer Jan. 8. A dominant optional claimer winner next out when extended to a mile in Hallandale Feb....

The GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. offers the last round of qualifying points for the GI Kentucky Derby on May 7 and the connections of GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth runner-up In Due Time (Not This Time) are still Derby dreaming. Their 3-year-old chestnut colt has never been off the board in his four career starts and has already earned 20 qualifying points from his second-place finish in the Fountain of Youth. He would still need the 20 points awarded to the Lexington S. winner in order to get a chance...

Led by Three Chimneys's Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}), young stallions with either first- or second-crop representatives account for 11 of the 20 leading point getters for the GI Kentucky Derby, and quite a few of these stallions, Gun Runner included, have the top 12 leading points earners for the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks as well. First-Crop 3-year-olds Gun Runner, whose first crop is three, has, incredibly, sired four individual Grade I winners so far, the latest of which is Zedan Racing's remarkable Taiba, who won the GI Runhappy Santa...

Just One Time (Not This Time) took her career to the next level with her first Grade I score in Keeneland's Madison S. Saturday. Away without incident after being pounded down to 2-1 favoritism late, the lightly raced PA-bred sat towards the back as Lady Rocket (Tale of the Cat) and Kimari (Munnings) knocked heads with longshot Club Car (Malibu Moon) through a snappy first quarter in :22.11. Just One Time has just one beat, Bell's the One (Majesticperfection), as the favorites continued their battle through a :44.50 half-mile. That Grade...

   A caravan of over 20 people made the 500-mile journey from central Pennsylvania to central Kentucky last week to watch star Pennsylvania-bred Just One Time (Not This Time) step up to Grade I company in the Madison S. at Keeneland. Their dedication was rewarded when the 4-year-old filly rallied from the last to first to get the win for Warrior's Reward LLC and Commonwealth New Era Racing. "She has developed a bit of a following in Pennsylvania," said Donnie Brown, who operates Warrior's Reward LLC with partner Tom McClay....

Triple Crown season might be heating up but the well-bred handicap divisions are keen on having a say in how the big stage shapes up. Here's who's been shouting the loudest this week. Stonestreet Gold Again a Rising Star... The famous silks have done it once more, this time with Marsalis (Curlin) adding another 'TDN Rising Star' accolade to GISW Hot Dixie Chick's already impressive tally as a broodmare. Full-brother and New York's Leading Second Crop sire Union Jackson also claimed Rising Stardom in his racing days; while half-sister Pauline's...

The Week in Review by T.D. Thornton Epicenter (Not This Time) is the first horse on this year's GI Kentucky Derby trail to arrive back in the proverbial clubhouse. His afternoon work is finished for the next six weeks, and he's earned his berth in America's most important horse race in a thoroughly professional manner that checks many of the boxes on the Derby desirability list. Epicenter's never-in-doubt dismantling of the GII Louisiana Derby field serves as a microcosm of his overall body of work: He's an adept breaker from...