Cogburn, Next Feature Not This Time's Versatility in BC

The Breeders' Cup is known for showcasing champions, and 2024 will be no different when the World Championships commence Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar.

Two generational talents, both of whom have placed themselves as one of the best their respective divisions have seen this century, will load into the gate with a chance to add to their accolades. However, Cogburn  and Next  couldn't have more different preferences in their races.

Cogburn's strength is his speed, becoming one of, if not the fastest turf sprinters in the world. In June, he completed 5 1/2 furlongs in a blistering :59.80 while winning the Jaipur Stakes (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course. The time was a North American turf record and believed by many to be a world record. A perfect 3-for-3 this year, and 6-for-7 lifetime in turf sprints, he will be the likely favorite in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T).

Next's strength is his stamina, becoming one of, if not the most dominant forces the dirt marathon division has ever seen. Over the last 2 1/2 years, at distances ranging from 1 3/8 miles to 1 3/4 miles, he has won nine of 10 starts by a combined 116 1/4 lengths. This season, he is just 3/4 lengths shy of winning all four starts by double-digits and set the Churchill Downs 1 1/2-mile track record in 2:27.93 while under a hand ride. Now he ventures out of his division for a shot at the country's biggest prize: the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).

When watching their performances, nothing would appear to be similar between the speedy bay and the durable gray. In reality, they share the most important commonality of all: their sire Not This Time  .

Not This Time has had a successful start at stud since joining Taylor Made Stallions in late 2016. His runners have shown proven ability on all surfaces and distances. Among his leading offspring are Epicenter  , named 2022's champion 3-year-old while racing on dirt, and Up to the Mark  , named 2023's champion male turf horse.

"It's a true testament to what kind of horses he can throw," said Jason Loutsch, racing manager of Albaugh Family Stables who campaigned Not This Time during his racing career. "Having (Coburn and Next) in the (Turf) Sprint and the Classic, the shortest turf race and the longest dirt race in the Breeders' Cup, it's really exciting going forward knowing he can throw any type of horse."

Cogburn and Next are just a spotlight on what the stallion has been able to do through his first crops. This year, Not This Time has sired seven individual graded stakes winners who have conquered distances of five furlongs, 5 1/2 furlongs, six furlongs, one mile, 1 1/16 miles, 1 3/8 miles, and 1 1/2 miles.

"He's very versatile. He has the ability to get top dirt horses and top turf horses and they can run many different distances," said president of Taylor Made Stallions Ben Taylor. "When it comes to the commercial market, you have a lot of different sectors vying for his offspring."

His ability to produce all types of runners is one that he shares with his sire, Giant's Causeway. Taylor also noted the blood of Ta Wee, whom Not This Time is inbred to on his dam's side, as potentially setting up multiple lines that have proven successful when bred to Not This Time, like the Ghostzapper, Turn-to, and Blushing Groom lines. Blushing Groom appears on the dam side of both Cogburn and Next's pedigrees and Turn-to is present in Cogburn's.

"There's quite a few of his top horses that have had similar breeding patterns," Taylor said. "He just has that God-given ability to be a prepotent stallion. There does seem to be a few patterns that we're looking for going forward."

Loutsch believes the "best is yet to come" for the 10-year-old stallion who seems to continue to grow interest among breeders.

On the track, Not This Time was an impressive winner of the Iroquois Stakes (G3) and runner-up, beaten a hard-fought neck by Classic Empire , in one of the most thrilling editions of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1).

"He did everything right except win this race," Loutsch said. "You look back at the history of the race, the numbers that came back would have won a lot of Breeders' Cup Juveniles."

Unfortunately, he sustained a soft tissue injury to his right front leg soon after and was retired from racing. Albaugh Family Stables sold 50% to Taylor Made, where they raise all their horses.

Unsure what demand he would bring with his premature retirement, he stood for $15,000 in 2017. Now with five grade 1 winners, two champions, and two superstars heading for the Breeders' Cup, he will stand for $175,000 in 2025.

"People recognized his talent and he's a really beautiful horse, so he had a lot of ingredients you need," Taylor said of demand during the first year at stud. "We got him booked up good at a reasonable stud fee."

"Taylor Made stepped up for us and marketed him well," Loutsch said. "I couldn't be more thankful for the partnership. We're so proud of what he's done in the breeding shed and are really excited for the future."

In addition to their success in their preferred divisions, both Cogburn and Next have flashed their sire's versatility in the past. Cogburn is a three-time winner and grade 3 placed on dirt. Next is a three-time winner on turf, including a 6 1/2 furlong maiden victory and a one mile win in the 2021 War Chant Stakes.

Doug Cowans, who trains Next, has a second Not This Time in the barn named Not This Boy . The 3-year-old gelding placed in his stakes debut at Ellis Park in August and Cowans believes he will also prove to be a versatile competitor when he returns to racing in the spring.

"I noticed both of the horses that I train by Not This Time outline the same as him," Cowans said. "They both show a lot of competitiveness to them. They both have raced well and have a lot of diversity to them."

Despite Not This Time's early talent in his shortened career, both Cogburn and Next have shown the sire's longevity in his offspring by beginning their string of dominance at age 4. Both have hit their best stride in their 5-year-old (Cogburn) and 6-year-old (Next) seasons.

This Breeders' Cup also shows the precociousness of his offspring as he has four juveniles pre-entered: Dream On  and Tenacious Leader  in the Juvenile Turf (G1T), Abientot  in the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) and Shareholder  in the Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T). Multiple graded stakes winner Arzak , a 6-year-old, is another pre-entry for the Turf Sprint. Not This Time has seven pre-entries in the Breeders' Cup, second most behind Into Mischief  's eight.

Not This Time has yet to produce a Breeders' Cup winner—Up to the Mark coming up just 3/4 lengths shy last year—but enters with probably his strongest overall chances yet amongst the five races in which he's represented.

"That would establish himself as a true world-class stallion," Loutsch said of winning a Breeders' Cup race.

"It would just keep the ball rolling; be a feather in his cap," Taylor said. "He's had horses who have been at the very top of multiple divisions already, but to be able to do that would increase his reputation moving forward."