Leading Second-Crop sire Not This Time got his fourth stakes winner of the year Saturday at Churchill Downs when the 3-year-old colt Next scored a commanding victory in the $150,000 War Chant S. on the turf.
With the field cut in half following four scratches, Next, who had shown speed in previous starts, went right to the front from the break under John Velazquez. He carved out reasonable fractions of :24.03, :48.40 and 1:12.53 with none of his foes getting any closer than 1 1/2-lengths. The flashy gray was full of run in the stretch and came home a 3 3/4-length winner in 1:35.09 for the mile on the firm turf.
“I knew he was a pretty speedy horse so the situation worked out well today being on the front end,” Velazquez said. “He seems to do his best running when he can get a lead and he was able to get a pretty easy one today.”
Next races for his breeder Silverton Hill LLC and is now 3-0-0 in six starts and has earned $199,394. His multiple stakes-placed dam Bahia Beach has three foals, all winners.
Not This Time is the leading Second-Crop sire of 2021 by stakes winners, stakes horses, with eight, as well as by winners (33) and wins (38).