Despite an off track from the rain bands of Tropical Storm Ophelia, Next looked to have an easy time of it Saturday as he took the lead at the start and then widened his advantage through the stretch to win the $200,000 Greenwood Cup (G3) by 25 lengths Saturday at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pennsylvania.
The 5-year-old Not This Time gelding, ridden by Luan Machado was chased most of the way in the 1 1/2-mile contest by last year's winner, Ridin With Biden, but effortlessly dispatched rival around the turn and strode clear.
Next returned $2.60 as the 1-5 favorite after completing the trip in 2:33.28 on a sloppy (sealed) track. He set early fractions of :25.72, :50.12, 1:15.51 and 1:40.91.
My Imagination, an 84-1 longshot who relaxed in fifth in the seven-horse field early, came on to take second by a nose from Ridin With Biden.
Trained by William 'Doug' Cowans for Michael A. Foster, Next entered Saturday's race off an 11 3/4-length romp going 1 3/4 miles in the Birdstone Stakes July 27 at Saratoga. The Greenwood Cup marked his fifth stakes triumph in races at 1 1/2 miles or longer since September 2022. His overall record improved to nine wins from 19 starts and purse earnings of $915,672
Bred in Kentucky by Silverton Hill LLC, Next was produced by the Awesome Again mare Bahia Beach.
Claimed for $62,500 by Foster and trainer Doug Cowans in April 2022, Next has won six of eight outings since the claim.
Greenwood Cup Quotes:
Winning owner Michael Foster: “We were looking forward to running in this race all year. The track has been deep and cuppy, and he's really never run on here and everything, but I was concerned. We don't take anything for granted. We know we've got a hell of a horse, but you know the two of them here, Calibrate and Riden for Biden, they were on this track, and they know about it. I was worried about it. When I saw the first fractions, I knew we had it. I saw :25 and then :50, we had an easy pace, then 1:40 on the mile, I knew we had it. Just clean it up and go home.”
“We won the Thoroughbred Aftercare (Grade 2, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes) last year at Keeneland at the Breeders' Cup, so we want to go out there and defend it.”
Winning trainer Doug Cowans: “It was the same plan as always today: get him in a rhythm and once in his rhythm, I think he does his thing. I didn't care if he went to the lead or sat third, whatever he needed to do, as long as he got in his rhythm. He broke sharp. He is awful tough to beat because he has so much stamina. He'll keep running and running.”
Were there any concerns: “The track is always a concern when you see a sloppy track like that and he has not run on one. It was a concern, but there is no concern now.”
Run versus big names in division: “It has not been a thought process up to this point. At the beginning of the year there was a five-race plan for this horse and we have made every one. Lucky enough, he has stayed sound and healthy and has made every race. There is one more race (the Grade 2, $250,000 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Marathon Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park), from there I don't know where we will go.”
“For us, they don't come any better. He is so unique at what he can do and I have been training horses for 30 years and have never had a horse that is this unique and can run these kind of distances. To have a horse that can do this is really unique and fun. I have never seen him get tired. Every time, all the way to the races, he gives us confidence. Sometimes, you get overconfident. He makes me look good.”
Winning jockey Luan Machado: “It was super simple. He's a natural speed horse. He just drags me the whole way. He's a horse that used to sprint in the beginning of his career, so he always had natural speed. That makes it easier. He just puts himself on lead or pretty close. Pretty special horse. He was super sharp even warning up today.”
How easy of a win was it? “I couldn't do anything at all. I checked twice and no one was coming. He was still cruising.”
What riding Next (his only graded stakes winner) has meant to him: “He has been changing everything for me. All my business is up. He's a horse of a lifetime. I'm very thankful for all the connections.”
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