Not This Time, Daddys Lil Darling Look to BC

Following an 8 3/4-length victory in the $150,000 Iroquois Presented by TwinSpires.com (gr. III) at Churchill Downs Sept. 17, Not This Time is scheduled to go straight to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park Nov. 5, according to trainer Dale Romans.

The son of Giant's Causeway who is a half brother to last year's Las Vegas Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) winner Liam's Map, punched his ticket for a spot in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile with Saturday's Iroquois victory, which is a part of the Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" series.

"We'll probably just go straight there," Romans said. "He looked fine to me (Sunday) morning."

Romans could not help but sing praises of Albaugh Family Stable's homebred before he made his first start, where he ran fifth beaten 10 lengths behind eventual Saratoga graded stakes winner Bitumen. Not This Time turned things around in his following start, rolling to a maiden victory in dominant fashion by 10 lengths over Society Beau, who would go on to find his first career win in Saturday's sixth race.

"We beat him by 10 lengths and then he comes back and wins against straight maidens," Romans said. "(Trainer) Neil (Howard) has a good horse, but mine is really something special."

Not This Time's 8 3/4-length Iroquois victory did not come easy. He broke a step slow coming out of the starting gate and sat well off a slow pace set by Blame Will, who led opening fractions of :24.30, :49.57 and 1:14.5.

"I think that the slow start was just the victim of being the last horse loaded in the starting gate," Romans said. "I also think the track might have been a little slow yesterday. He ran about two seconds faster than the fillies. It's hard to compare apples to apples." Romans also won the Locust Grove (gr. III) with Engaginglee on Saturday afternoon, who he has not made any definite plans for.

As for the juvenile fillies, Pocahontas Presented by TwinSpires.com (gr. II) winner Daddys Lil Darling is possible for Keeneland's $400,000 Darley Alcibiades (gr. I) Oct. 8., according to trainer Kenny McPeek, who initially said that the daughter of Scat Daddy would likely train up the $2 million 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) at Santa Anita on Nov. 5.

"We won't completely rule it out," said McPeek, who also won last year's Pocahontas with Dothraki Queen. "We haven't decided on the Alcibiades or to simply train her up to the Breeders' Cup. My first instinct would be to train her up but we'll see how she does during these next few days. We have a few weeks to make a decision."