Susie Raisher Photo

Nothing but Next in $150K Birdstone waltz

by Mary Eddy

The marathon division’s runaway leader Next was never in doubt Sunday as he strolled home a 22 1/4-length winner in a repeat trouncing of the Listed $150,000 Birdstone, a 1 3/4-mile marathon for older horses, at Saratoga Race Course.

Conditioned by William "Doug" Cowans for owner Michael Foster, Next stands alone in a division that produced three challengers as the son of Not This Time vied for his sixth consecutive stakes conquest, entering off another dominant victory after repeating in the Grade 2 Brooklyn on July 5 at Belmont at the Big A.

"As always, he showed up with his ‘A’ game,” said Cowans. “The horse outdoes himself every time and he's just a nice horse. Fun to be around and I enjoy training him."

Ridden to victory by regular pilot Luan Machado, Next emerged from the outermost post 4 and briefly sat off a slow early tempo set by Time for Trouble, who marked an opening quarter-mile in 25.12 over the fast footing before Next picked up the pace and took command in the first turn. Slip Mahoney tracked along the rail before making his move for the lead heading into the stretch for the first time as Time for Trouble was pulled up by Flavien Prat.

Machado was content to let Slip Mahoney try his hand at the front as the trio crossed the wire for the first time after a half-mile in 51.09 and three-quarters in 1:16.73. Down the backstretch, Machado decided to test Slip Mahoney’s mettle and ranged up on his outside, quickly dismissing that rival and pulling away to a clear advantage. The Manny Franco-piloted Masqueparade was hard sent with a decisive move from his rider approaching the final turn, and applied pressure as the final challenger for the mighty Next.

The threat was short-lived, and with the slightest movement from Machado’s hands, Next kicked clear of Masqueparade in effortless fashion midway through the turn. After 10 furlongs in 2:08.49, the only question left was what margin Next would win by as he drew off in front of the cheering stands for the final time. He completed the course in 2:57.83 with Masqueparade well-beaten after his courageous try.

It was a further 96 1/4 lengths back to Slip Mahoney as he jogged past the wire third. Nimitz Class was scratched.

Prat said he was not pleased with the way Time for Trouble was traveling and pulled his mount up as a precaution. The Jeff Hiles trainee walked off under his own power.

Machado, whose four career graded stakes victories have all come aboard Next, said there were no tense moments today.

"That was a very fun ride. He took me for a ride,” said Machado. “He always seemed very superior all the way around, it was a fun ride. As soon as I felt Manny coming close, I just gave a little check-in and, like you saw, he just took off with ease."

Foster added Next is in a category all his own.

“He’s so entertaining and where it’s really fun to be with him is after the racing and getting in the stall with him,” Foster said. “I’ve never had a horse with a personality like this. Everybody’s in love with this horse. Not just because of the way he runs, but because of the way he is. He’s a unique horse.”

Next earned the eighth stakes coup of his career, adding to his back-to-back Grade 2 Brooklyn victories, as well as additional graded scores in the 2022 Grade 2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at Keeneland and last year’s Grade 3 Greenwood Cup at Parx Racing. He has won 9-of-11 starts for Cowans since being haltered for $62,500 in April 2022 and finding his calling as a dirt marathoner.

With each of America’s major marathon races under his belt already, Next could turn his attention to a repeat attempt in the 12-furlong Grade 3 Greenwood Cup on September 21 at Parx. One other possibility is a cutback in distance as Cowans mulls over the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup going 10-furlongs on September 1 here, a “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in November at Del Mar.

"Well, we will see how things go. When we get home, we will make a plan,” Cowans said. “I stick to what I've always said, the horse, you can watch him in the races, he really enjoys himself out there, loves doing what he's doing. So when I start to shorten him down, I don't know how well he will like it, but maybe we will have to try it at some point."

Bred in Kentucky by Silverton Hill, Next banked $82,500 in victory and improved his lifetime record to 22-12-0-1. He returned $2.10 on a $2 win wager as the overwhelming 1-9 mutuel favorite.

Live racing resumes Wednesday at Saratoga with a nine-race card, featuring the $125,000 Johnstone Mile in Race 8. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

Saratoga Live will present live coverage and analysis of the Saratoga Race Course summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Saratoga Race Course, and the best way to bet every race of the summer meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.