Long-distance specialist Next (Not This Time) has been confirmed for next week's GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic by his trainer Doug Cowans in a story first reported by the Daily Racing Form's David Grening. The 6-year-old gelding was listed on the pre-entry list for the Classic with second preference given to the GI Breeders' Cup Turf.
“I had to choose one or the other, the Turf or the Classic,” Cowans told the TDN. “The jock and I have sat down and talked after the breezes he's had since winning the Greenwood Cup and we feel like the dirt will give us more answers at this moment in time. If we would have gone turf, we might have walked away not knowing much. This will tell us to stay in our own lane or we can learn that he can run in some mile-and-a-quarter dirt races next year.”
Next worked five furlongs Thursday over the Tapeta at Turfway Park, going in 1:01 flat (2/6) with jockey Luan Machado aboard. He rides a seven-race win streak of distances from 1 3/8 to 1 3/4 miles dating back to June 2023 into the Classic which is contested at 1 1/4 miles.
Cowans continued: “I think the pace will be a much faster tempo than the races he has been in but my game plan is to play the same game I do when he runs at a mile and a half. That is not worry about where he is positioned. More so, I'll worry about getting him in his rhythm, and once gets into his rhythm, let him do his thing. We'll hope for the best and hope this plays into his hands. I am sure excited about it. I took the process whereby we let the horse tell us what to do. We've looked for every answer not to go. He's given us no signals that not going is the thing to do. He's on top of his game right now.”
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