"NOT THIS TIME" Rears in Gate, Jumps and Wins in the Mud in True Iroquois Stakes Fashion

After finishing fifth in his debut, Not This Time broke through with a 10-length romp in his second career start.

The Giant's Causeway colt then tried stakes company for trainer Dale Romans and dominated in an 8 3/4-length runaway in the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs in September, punching his ticket to the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

A half brother to 2015 Breeders' Cup Mile winner Liam's Map, Not This Time is out of the brilliant sprinter Miss Macy Sue a Grade 3 winner and track record setter.

With regular rider Robby Alvarado aboard, Not This Time easily overcame a hop at the start as he rallied powerfully in the far turn on his way to an easy win in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win & You’re In” race, which earned him a guaranteed spot in the Sentient Jet Breeders Cup Juvenile. “Dale gave me confidence to just kind of ride my own race and get him in a nice, cruising stride. He took a little dirt, which schooled him a bit today, but he ran well. He’s a nice horse,” Albarado said. “He’s a nice horse, man. He’s got a future.” 

Not This Time entered the far turn in fifth and, despite racing wide, steadily gained on his rivals before rolling through the stretch to complete 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.22 on a muddy track.

Winning trainer Dale Romans, who also won the Iroquois in 2013 with Cleburne, believes he has a special horse in the half brother to last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Liam’s Map. Romans said Not This Time has the talent, the looks and the pedigree. “He’s the real deal. He’s spooky good and I think he’s everything I’ve always thought he was. He’s just so talented,” Romans said. “He just sat outside. I usually say to stay inside and eat them if you have to in order to save ground, but when I think I have tons the best, I tell them to keep them in the clear and keep them in a nice, long gallop, and just try to overtake them and that’s what he did.”