Cogburn | Horse Racing Free Tips

Sod Dabbler Or Diver, Saturday’s Graded Stakes Runs Deep

The going sticks will get stuck and with the rails down or out, the Saturday graded stakes lineup trucks in with heaps of sod for your turf racing enjoyment.

Whether you are a dabbling duck or one that takes a deep dive, there is something for everyone as the Downs–Kentucky and Colonial–plus Woodbine Racetrack and the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, all feature high-level grass action.

KENTUCKY DOWNS GRADED SIX PACK

The uniquely designed turf course at Kentucky Downs cards the most graded stakes this Saturday, which will lead off with the GIII Ladies Marathon S.

Going 1 5/16ths, look for MGSP Vergara (Noble Mission) to stalk the pace as she returns to the site where she won last year by a head in the Dueling Grounds Oaks. Standing in her way is GSW Personal Best (Tapit) who broke her maiden at last year's meet before going on to face graded company this spring at Gulfstream Park where the homebred won the GIII La Prevoyante S.

With no overwhelming favorite on the morning-line, expect the GII Franklin-Simpson S. to be an all-out war both on the tote and sprinting down the stretch. Playlist (Uncle Mo), making her first stakes start, will look to go on the offensive early versus the boys, but she will have to contend with Sweet Cherry Pie (Twirling Candy), who has never sampled turf, and GSW Mo Stash (Mo Town), who is cutting back for the first time in almost a year.

Playlist | Coady Photography

“I like to run fillies against colts in sprints,” said Playlist's trainer Wesley Ward. “I don't think it makes a big difference. If you look at the times in the 2-year-olds in training sales, the fillies are always faster as a group. I think they can compete against the colts every time.”

Moving right along, the GIII Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf S. pits GISP and MGSP White Frost (Candy Ride {Arg}) against GSW and 'TDN Rising Star' New Year's Eve (Kitten's Joy). After a very solid first half, the former was second in the De La Rose S. Aug. 2 at Saratoga and will face many of those competitors in this spot, while the latter prepped ably by winning this race's preview at Ellis Park Aug. 6.

Back to the speedsters for the GII Turf S. for males, it is going to be a pleasure to see another bout between the top two finishers in Aug. 5 running of the GIII Troy S. at Saratoga. That slugfest upstate saw Cogburn (Not This Time) catch GSW Nobals (Noble Mission {GB}) just before the wire. If this race wasn't tough enough, you will also find 'TDN Rising Star' and Woodbine GII Connaught Cup hero Dream Shake (Twirling Candy) looking to make it three wins in a row.

The GII Ladies Turf S. includes favorite MGSP Bay Storm (Kantharos), as she looks to add to her overall earnings after winning the prep for this race Aug. 5 at Ellis Park, and the experienced GSW and GISP Wakanaka (Ire) (Power {GB}).

Bringing up the graded rear going 12 furlongs will be the $1.7-million GII Turf Cup S., which offers a 'Win and You're In' opportunity into the GI Breeders' Cup Longines Turf. A pair of Brendan Walsh trainees in GSW Verstappen (War Front) and MGISW Santin (Distorted Humor) come calling, but they are going to have to be cognizant of GI United Nations S. victor Therapist (Freud) and GIII Dinner Party S. winner Never Explain (Street Sense).

“I wouldn't completely rule out him going back to dirt again at some point,” Walsh said of Santin. “But he's a heck of a turf horse … he ran a very good second in the Arlington Million. It was a fantastic run. He was up on the pace the whole way and was there to be shot at. And he held in there and ran a really, really good second. I feel he's doing really well coming into here. He got a mile and a quarter at Colonial. I don't see why he wouldn't get a mile and a half. He's a very relaxed horse, maybe a little too laid back if anything.”

KLARAVICH STABLEMATES TRADE BLOWS IN VIRGINIA DERBY

Program Trading | Sarah Andrew

On its closing day Saturday, Colonial Downs hosts the nine-furlong GIII Virginia Derby.

Klaravich Stables has a pair of Chad Brown trainees which pose a major threat to the rest of the field. Activist Investing (GB) (Kingman {GB}) was very sharp at this distance when he cleared the optional claiming ranks Aug. 13 at Saratoga in his lone race this year. He will do battle with GI Saratoga Derby star Program Trading (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) by attempting to relieve his speed-oriented stablemate of his perfect record.

Also present is Salute the Stars (Candy Ride {Arg}), winner of the Monmouth Park Pegasus S. June 17 and surprise longshot from the Aug. 12 GII Secretariat S. at Colonial, Gigante (Not This Time), who is trying to become the first Virginia-bred to win this race.

WOODBINE'S TURF ACE RETURNS

Not to be missed in the GII Canadian S. for older females is the return of last year's victoress Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutalfan {Ire}), who wired the field last out in the GI Beverly D Aug. 12 at Colonial. She will square off against the top three finishers from the GII Dance Smartly S. Aug. 20 at Woodbine, which includes Miss Dracarys (Malibu Moon).

“Javier [Castellano] and I were flying to Colonial Downs, and we were talking about the race [Beverly D],” said Fev Rover's trainer Mark Casse. “He said, 'There's no speed in this race.' I agreed and told him that she can go right to the lead. The nice thing about her, and Tepin [champion and dual Hall of Fame mare] was the same way, is that a great horse can bring their A-game no matter the situation. So, we went right to the lead, and it was over when that happened.”

Also on the graded docket is the GIII Singspiel S., which returns to 1 1/4 grass distance from two years ago. GSP Malibu Mambo (Point of Entry) could be the hot commodity after a sharp late surge against optional claimers in Toronto Aug. 12, but don't count out GSP Palazzi (Pioneerof the Nile).

DEL MAR SPORTS LONE GRADED DIRT RACE

Julias Dream | Benoit

The GI Del Mar Debutante S., the only graded dirt race on Saturday, is sure to bring some attention with a capacity field of 14. First-crop sire Flameaway is well represented with 'TDN Rising Star' Julias Dream, who broke her maiden by 5 1/2 lengths over the turf at Del Mar Aug. 6. She will take on the top two finishers from the GIII Sorrento S. Aug. 12, Dreamfyre (Flameaway) and Benedetta (City of Light). The lineup also includes Chatalas (Gun Runner) and Tamara (Bolt d'Oro), who both broke their maidens at first asking in Solana Beach July 30 and Aug. 19, respectively.

It wouldn't be Del Mar's surf without the turf and this year's GII John Mabee S. might be remembered as a match between GII Yellow Ribbon H. wearer Closing Remarks (Vronsky) and MGSW Neige Blanche (Fr) (Anodin {Ire}). Still, no one should overlook trainer Phil D'Amato's offerings. After all, he is looking to edge out Bob Baffert for the training title, and both Oakhurst (Mr Speaker) and GSW Turnerloose (Nyquist) will try to help the cause as the Del Mar meet concludes Sunday with a pair of graded races, the GI Runhappy Del Mar Futurity and GIII Del Mar Juvenile Turf S.

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West VA Derby Winner Red Route One Targets Dueling Grounds Derby

Sunday's GIII West Virginia Derby winner Red Route One (Gun Runner) is expected to make his next start in the National Thoroughbred League Dueling Grounds Derby Sept. 3 at the FanDuel Meet at Kentucky Downs.

The Steve Asmussen-trainee began his career with a victory over the Kentucky Downs grass last year and owner Ron Winchell is a co-managing partner with Marc Falcone in Kentucky Downs and its sister The Mint Gaming Hall properties.

“I think since he had been successful there last year, we have always had our eye on Kentucky Downs to bring him back and run him this year,” said David Fiske, the longtime racing and bloodstock manager for Winchell Thoroughbreds. “Because he was successful and because the purses are what they are. We were hoping to get him into the richest race that made sense, and after winning (the $500,000 West Virginia Derby), the Dueling Grounds Derby looks like a real possibility.”

“It seems like all year long, he's been dropping out the back and the makes a big run, which is kind of like how a lot of turf races are run,” Fiske continued. “Slow early and fast late. Sometimes if there is enough pace in front of you and you can get there and sometimes you don't.”

Another Asmussen-trained graded-stakes winner from last weekend also is likely headed to Kentucky Downs. GIII Troy S. winner Cogburn (Not This Time) is set to contest the GII Ainsworth Turf Sprint, a six-furlong race Sept. 9 whose winner earns a fees-paid spot in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

“I think obviously he has excelled on the turf, being undefeated, and gave me a great feel today,” Asmussen told Saratoga's publicity team after the Troy S. “I feel great to beat the field that we did and now we can think big. We hopefully have a Breeders' Cup horse. We have had one Turf Sprint winner in the past (2011 winner Regally Ready), so hopefully we have another one. We had planned on running here and then Kentucky Downs, but we'll see how we come out of this and figure out what we should do.”

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Not This Time Share Hammers For $2M at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga

Before bidding commenced for the second and final session of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, a share in leading Taylor Made stallion Not This Time (Giant's Causeway–Miss Macy Sue, by Trippi) was hammered down for an even $2 million. The share was purchased by D. J. Stable, BlackRidge Stables, Barry Fowler and John Cummins, according to Taylor Made's Mark Taylor. The sale of the share was coordinated by Taylor Made Sales and is subject to a 10-day match from the syndicate. Not This Time stands at Taylor Made Stallions in Nicholasville, KY.

It has been another banner season for Not This Time, the sire of five Grade I winners from his first three crops, including this year's Resorts World Casino Manhattan S. hero Up To the Mark. His Grade I winners on the dirt include sales-topping 'TDN Rising Star' Princess Noor, G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen hero Sibelius and GI Madison S. victress Just One Time. The leading fourth-crop sire of 2023, he is also responsible for Cogburn, who won the GIII Troy S. sprinting over the turf at Saratoga Aug. 5.

The share in Not This Time includes all the projected income from the just-concluded breeding season. Shareholders are entitled to one nomination annually plus the proportionate share of the excess book.

Not This Time is governed by a 50-share syndicate.

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Not This Time Share Kicks Off Tuesday Night at Fasig Saratoga

A share in leading sire Not This Time figures to provide some fireworks when it kicks off the action Tuesday night at Saratoga. The sale of the share is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Not This Time is the sire of five Grade I winners from three crops to race, and is the leading fourth-crop sire of 2023.

The share includes all projected income from the 2023 breeding season. Shareholders receive one nomination annually, plus their proportional share of the excess book. (See complete details here.)

Not This Time is governed by a 50-share syndicate. “It's a very tightly held syndicate,” said Mark Taylor of Taylor Made Sales. “The Albaugh family has retained almost half of the shares in Not This Time. Taylor Made owns a chunk of shares, Coolmore owns a chunk of shares, and there are a few other single-share owners. The opportunity to buy these doesn't come along very often because none of those people who own blocks of shares are sellers. This is a unique opportunity.”

Though a fourth-crop sire, Not This Time is just nine years old, having started his breeding career at three.

“For a horse to have already accomplished what he's accomplished at nine is really rare,” said Taylor. “I mean, a lot of these good stallions didn't retire until they were five, start breeding at six or whatever, and by the time they have a chance to establish themselves, they're 13 or 14, whatever. That makes him unique.”

Not This Time's Grade I winners include Up To The Mark, winner of the GI Manhattan S. and the GI Turf Classic S. on turf. Epicenter won the GI Travers S. on dirt, and was second in the Derby and Preakness. Sibelius won the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, a dirt sprint; Just One Time won the seven-furlong Madison S.; and Princess Noor won the GI Del Mar Debutante on the dirt at two.

That versatility in his offspring is, said Taylor, “the hallmark of a lot of the really, really great stallions. Some of them are pigeonholed more dirt, turf or sprint or distance. But if you look at his top horses, you've got Princess Noor who was a Grade I winner at two. She was a seven-figure 2-year-old-in-training. You've got Up To The Mark, who was a $450,000 Book 1 yearling bred off a $15,000 stud fee, and he's turned into a two-turn grass horse. But he was good on the dirt early on in his career. You've got Epicenter, who was champion 3-year-old on the dirt and with a little better circumstance, probably could have won the Kentucky Derby. And then you've got horses that are like Simplification, who was a top 3-year-old on the dirt last year.”

As if to underscore his point, Not That Time's Cogburn won the GIII Troy S., a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint, at Saratoga Saturday.

“Cogburn was good on the dirt last year, they brought him back, and now he looks like he's a real player for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint this year,” said Taylor. “He is a turf sprinter, so I think his versatility is unique. The fact that he gets 2-year olds, he gets route horses on the dirt, he can get turf horses going short or long, and the X-factor is he gets beautiful yearlings. I think anybody that's looking around the grounds this week at Saratoga is going to come away just saying, 'Wow. The product he puts on the end of the shank is very impressive.'”

Recent sales of his progeny have been strong; his 2022 Saratoga sale average was $425,000, with seven sold from seven offered. “His sales averages are now just really taking off, and the best mares by far are coming up in the subsequent crops,” said Taylor. “All his success has come off of mares that were bred on $15,000-and-under stud fees. Now he's got a yearling crop that was on a $35,000 stud fee. He's got foals that were on a $45,000 stud fee, and then he's got in-utero mares that were covered on $135,000. The pipeline is really loaded and I think the sky's the limit. He's a very fertile horse, which makes life easier when you're a shareholder and when you're breeding. It's a big deal in this day and age when people are trying to cover large books of mares.”

Taylor said that there were obvious advantages to putting the stallion share up for sale in a public format and at a marquee event. “It's a unique offering and I think the thought was that the vast majority of these stallions that retire to the bigger stallion farms are not syndicated. Finding a horse that's moving into the upper echelon of stallions that is syndicated makes it unique. If we put it in front of the public and let people bid on it, as opposed to just doing a private solicitation of people we think might be interested, we just thought we could get the word out, get more eyeballs on the opportunity. The seller came up with the idea and they asked our permission and we said, Yes.'” The seller, said Taylor is a private individual who wishes to remain undisclosed.

People often comment on Not This Time's good looks, and his name ties into that, Taylor said.

“His mother, Miss Macy Sue, was campaigned by the Albaughs. She produced Liam's Map, and in his year, he was arguably the best-looking yearling on our farm. They didn't plan on selling him, but we lobbied and said, 'Hey, there's a beautiful horse. You could really take a lot of chips off the table, and then there's a lot of years still to breed Miss Macy Sue. Why don't you put it in the sale?'

“They decided to do it, said Taylor. “He brings $800,000. And so when Not This Time came along, he was clearly the best-looking yearling on our farm. He was absolutely just stunning, this big dark bay Adonis of a horse. And so we said, 'Hey, this is another opportunity to take some chips off the table. Why don't we put him in the sale?” And they said, 'Uh-uh. Not this time.'”

Taylor said he believed that as promising as his first few seasons have been, the best is yet to come for Not This Time.

“The support he got this year from the best breeders around the world was really amazing. I mean, you can't name a really top breeder that didn't send mares to him this year. I think that the support he's getting now is hopefully just going to take him to the next level in his career.”

Bidding on the share is available in person at the sales pavilion at Saratoga, online, or via telephone.

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