Subsequent just isn’t the primary horse who turned right into a graded stakes winner after he was claimed.
But his ascent right into a black-type performer would be the most stunning in fairly some time given the way of his turnaround.
Previous to April 16, 2022, when coach Doug Cowans claimed the son of Not This Time from Wesley Ward for $62,500, Subsequent match the profile of a helpful turf miler. In his longest and most necessary filth race, the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), he completed 14th and final.
So, how did the now 6-year-old Subsequent turn into America’s greatest and most dominant filth marathoner?
“Early on we observed he likes to get in a rhythm it doesn’t matter what he did. After I noticed he had that stamina, I advised these guys we have now to strive some various things with the horse,” stated Cowans, whose 4 profession graded stakes wins are all courtesy of Subsequent. “The horse has confirmed up each time we requested him to. So, right here we’re once more.”
The place Cowans was standing as he spoke was the winner’s circle at Aqueduct Racetrack, the place he was joined by proprietor Michael Foster and jockey Luan Machado after Subsequent turned in one other dazzling effort in a marathon, successful the $200,000 Brooklyn Stakes (G2) July 5 for the second straight yr.
The victory within the 1 3/8-mile take a look at was not solely his eighth in 10 begins for the reason that declare—together with these 4 graded stakes scores—however the 9 1/4-length demolition of six rivals featured Subsequent working his eleventh and ultimate furlong in :11.89, a outstanding clocking contemplating the grey or roan gelding pressed the early tempo from second at such a taxing distance.
“(Cowans) will get all of the credit score for that,” Foster stated. “All I do is write the checks. These guys proper listed below are the workforce. They do an outstanding job.”
The victory, by a decisive margin over grade 2 winner Crupi , was the fifth straight for the son of the Superior Once more mare Bahia Seaside, who has registered a cumulative successful margin of 59 1/2 lengths in these victories.
Whereas that file would possibly encourage some of us to contemplate attempting Subsequent at a shorter distance, like a mile-and-a-quarter or a mile-and-an-eighth, Cowans is anxious that the quicker tempo in these races may very well be problematic for the gelding bred by Silverton Hill in Kentucky.
The time for six furlongs in Saturday’s race was 1:14.07.
“The issue is, the tempo goes to vary if you begin shortening issues down. I fear about that with him. Early on he likes to be up shut, and he has some pure velocity however he likes to get right into a rhythm as soon as he breaks out of there with that pure velocity. I do not find out about placing him right into a :46 half. That is not his fashion,” stated Cowans after Saturday’s race, which was the shortest distance in Subsequent’s final eight begins. “He simply loves this, and we will attempt to maintain doing it with him. We’ll run him 4 or 5 occasions a yr, regardless of the marathon races are. Simply maintain doing it with him and hope he is round for some time as a result of he is enjoyable to be round and he is enjoyable to look at do that.”
Provided that choice, the Aug. 4 $150,000 Birdstone Stakes at Saratoga Race Course at a 1 3/4-mile distance, a race Subsequent gained final yr, would appear a possible goal for the $1,145,861 earner.
Subsequent, the 2-5 favourite ($2.90) off an 11 1/4-length victory Could 1 within the Isaac Murphy Marathon In a single day Stakes at Churchill Downs, was second by a few half-length a lot of the best way behind the pacesetting Drake’s Passage .
Machado guided him to the lead leaving the quarter pole and he rocketed away from his rivals. Forward by 4 1/2 lengths at midstretch, he doubled that margin whereas crossing the wire in 2:13.68 after dealing with the mile and 1 / 4 in 2:01.79.
“He is a naturally speedy horse, that helps every part out. He at all times will get himself in a great place,” Machado stated.
Repole Steady and St. Elias Stables’ Crupi, a son of Curlin who gained the Spa’s Suburban Stakes (G2) at 1 1/4 miles in his final begin, rallied from final to take second by a half-length for coach Todd Pletcher.
Robert Evans’ Drake’s Passage, a Tonalist colt skilled by Christophe Clement, held on for third.
Subsequent is the fifth graded stakes winner of the yr for sire Not This Time. Different graded winners of 2024 embody turf sprinters Cogburn , Arzak , and Shareholder , and Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) winner No Extra Time . Not This Time stood the 2024 breeding season at Taylor Made Stallions for a price of $150,000. Subsequent is the third and most up-to-date foal from Bahia Seaside and her third winner.
