It was a chilly morning at Turfway Park Oct. 16, but star marathoner Next brought the fire while completing his second workout since another tour de force in the Sept. 21 Greenwood Cup (G3) at Parx Racing.
Next was the fastest of 15 workers at the five-furlong distance on Turfway’s synthetic Tapeta surface Wednesday morning, completing the distance in 1:00 3/5 according to Turfway Park clockers. Both jockey Luan Machado and trainer Doug Cowans recorded him in slightly faster time while recording his six-furlong gallop-out in 1:12 and change.
Star dirt marathoner #Next breezing five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 at @TurfwayPark Oct. 16 with @luanmachado85 aboard. @BreedersCup decision to come this weekend per @doug_cowans. pic.twitter.com/mfHjVtD2MV
— Sean Collins (@BH_SCollins) October 16, 2024
“He went great as always, fast,” said Machado. “I think he’s ready to go and happy, that’s the main thing.”
WATCH: Jockey Luan Machado Pleased With Next’s Oct. 16 Breeze
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The breeze was a critical one for the 6-year-old Not This Time gelding as it was his final work ahead of the Oct. 21 pre-entries for the Breeders’ Cup.
“We got exactly what we wanted out of it,” Cowans said. “Everything went just as planned this morning.”
Now comes decision time for Cowans and owner Michael Foster. A specialist at distances ranging from 1 3/8 miles to 1 3/4 miles on the dirt, there is no perfect Breeders’ Cup race that fits the gelding.
The $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) keeps the dirt surface but shortens Next to 1 1/4 miles, providing a different pace scenario compared to what the Marathon King has grown accustomed to over the last two years. The $5 million Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T) keeps the 1 1/2-mile distance but swaps Next to a surface he has won over, but not with the same level of domination.
Before a race can be chosen, Cowans and Foster must decide whether Next will travel to Del Mar ahead of the Nov. 2 World Championships.
Cowans said they will watch Next over the next two days to make sure he comes out of the breeze well. Should he train in good order Oct. 18, Cowans and Foster will make their commitment.
“If all’s well, we will probably nominate to both the Classic and the Turf,” Cowans said. “Then later next week, make a decision which way to go.”
“I feel confident and think he can handle (running in the Breeders’ Cup),” said Machado. “I hope we go for it.”
