By Steve Sherack
Clark Brewster and William and Corinne Heiligbrodt's Cogburn (h, 5, Not This Time–In a Jif, by Saintly Look) made it a perfect three-for-three on the year with another powerhouse performance in Saturday's 'Win and You're In' $2-million GII Ainsworth Turf Sprint S. at Kentucky Downs.
The even-money favorite blasted out to the front, raced under pressure while setting fast fractions of :21.82 and :44.14 and kept on motoring down the stretch to win going away by 3 1/4 lengths. Second-place finisher Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and third-place finisher Axthelm (Into Mischief) both rallied from far back to collect the minors. Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Nobals (Noble Mission {GB}) was fourth.
The final time for six furlongs was a very sharp 1:07.68. The course record of 1:07.41 was established in 2022.
Cogburn set a North American-record time for 5 1/2 furlongs (:59.80) while capturing the GI Jaipur Stakes at Saratoga last time out June 8 with a gaudy 111 Beyer Speed Figure. That broke the previous record of 1:00.21 established in 2019.
Cogburn kicked off his 5-year-old campaign with an impressive win off the bench in the GII Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 4. Cogburn is now six for seven over the grass. His lone loss on the surface? He finished fifth in this same race last year, his final start of 2023.
It was announced earlier this summer that Cogburn will stand at WinStar Farm upon his retirement.
“What an amazing horse Cogburn is,” winning Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen said. “What a wonderful ownership group. I'm so proud that it's the first time that he ran since WinStar bought into him, bought his breeding rights. For him to validate the form that he has shown all year long in his turf sprints is very special.”
The next stop for Cogburn is the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar.
“He's along the lines of the fast horses we've had for the Heiligbrodts, their great Eclipse season with Mitole,” Asmussen said. “We're unbelievably blessed to be associated with this horse.”
Winning jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. added, “I didn't do much, to be honest, just hold it together and he took me all the way.”
Pedigree Notes:
Cogburn is one of six Grade I winners for leading young sire Not This Time. Asmussen also trained Not This Time's GI Travers S. winner and champion 3-year-old colt Epicenter.
Cogburn's dam In a Jif won seven of 18 career starts, including a stakes victory at Turfway Park. In a Jif has also produced a Not This Time colt of 2023 and a colt by Epicenter of this year. She was bred back to Into Mischief. In a Jif brought $26,000 from Bellary Bay Bloodstock while carrying Cogburn at the 2018 KEENOV sale.
🔥 Is he the fastest horse in the world? #4 COGBURN ($4.20) showed his true grit at @KYDownsRacing, kicking clear to win the $2 million Turf Sprint Stakes (G2)! pic.twitter.com/wtWowGEfSl
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) September 7, 2024
Saturday, Kentucky Downs
AINSWORTH TURF SPRINT S.-GII, $1,797,200, Kentucky Downs, 9-7, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:07.68, fm.
1–COGBURN, 125, h, 5, by Not This Time
1st Dam: In a Jif (SW, $203,382), by Saintly Look
2nd Dam: Damie's Peanut, by Stravinsky
3rd Dam: Damie's Sis, by Sunny Clime
($52,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $310,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL; $150,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR). O-Clark O. Brewster, L. William and Corinne Heiligbrodt; B-Bellary Bloodstock (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr.. $1,176,600. Lifetime Record: GISW, 15-9-2-0, $2,414,330. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Khaadem (Ire), 125, g, 8, Dark Angel (Ire)–White Daffodil (Ire), by Footstepsinthesand (GB). (750,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-Mrs. Fitriani Hay; B-Yeomanstown Stud (IRE); T-Charlie Hills. $186,000.
3–Axthelm, 121, h, 5, Into Mischief–Preemptive Attack, by Smart Strike. O-Edward A. Seltzer, Beverly Anderson, Michael and Jules Iavarone; B-Edward A. Seltzer & Beverly Anderson (KY); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.. $193,000.
Margins: 3 1/4, 1, NO. Odds: 1.10, 4.65, 30.03.
Also Ran: Nobals, Charcoal, One Timer, Gear Jockey, Coppola, Mo Stash-(DH), Noble Reflection-(DH), Five o' Somewhere, Witty. Scratched: Grooms All Bizness.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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