What’s next for Next? That’s the question everyone is asking after Next reiterated his dominance over North America’s long-distance dirt racers with an effortless victory in Sunday’s $130,500 Birdstone S. racing 1 3/4 miles at Saratoga.
Next has made a habit of winning stakes over distances from 1 3/8 miles to 1 3/4 miles by large margins, often double-digits. The four-time graded stakes winner took last year’s Birdstone by 11 3/4 lengths and nearly doubled that margin of victory in his title defense, pressing the pace in second place before drawing off under virtually no urging to defeat Masqueparade by 22 1/4 lengths in 2:57.83.
“That was a very fun ride,” said winning jockey Luan Machado. “He took me for a ride. He always seemed very superior all the way around, it was a fun ride. As soon as I felt Manny (Franco, riding Masqueparade) coming close, I just gave a little check-in and, like you saw, he just took off with ease.”
Slip Mahoney eased up down the homestretch to finish third, 118 1/2 lengths behind the winner, while Time for Trouble pulled up around the first turn and walked off. Nimitz Class scratched.
The Birdstone marked Next’s sixth win in a row and his third triumph of 2024, having opened the year with a track-record victory in the 1 1/2-mile Isaac Murphy Marathon at Churchill Downs and a 9 1/4-length drubbing of the 1 3/8-mile Brooklyn (G2) at Aqueduct.
Next’s complete superiority over the dirt marathon division has prompted speculation that he might have the talent to compete over shorter distances as well. When asked about a possible start four weeks from now in Saratoga’s $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) over 1 1/4 miles, winning trainer Doug Cowans said: “Well, we will see how things go. When we get home, we will make a plan. 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.”
Michael A. Foster, who owns the six-year-old gelded son of Not This Time, voiced similar thoughts when asked about the Jockey Club Gold Cup: “I have no comment. As I’ve said before, I’m just the guy who writes the check. His team and Doug will make the decision. Of course, Doug and I will talk about it. If you ask me if I’d love to see him in the Gold Cup is something I’d say yes to, but we don’t have any plans right now. We’ll see how he comes back home tomorrow.”
Regardless of where Next runs next, Foster hopes his star runner will keep on shining at Saratoga for years to come.
“I just hope to keep him sound,” said Cowans. “That’s our goal, to keep him sound and come back here and win it again next year and the year after, if we can.”
Also on the Sunday card, The Queens M G delivered an eye-catching victory in the $200,000 Adirondack (G3) for two-year-old fillies. Roughly 3 1/2 weeks after taking Saratoga’s six-furlong Schuylerville S. by 2 3/4 lengths at odds of 44-1, The Queens M G had no difficulty conquering half a dozen rivals in the 6 1/2-furlong Adirondack. She stayed within striking distance of :21.42 and :44.57 pace splits before powering away to win by nine lengths in 1:17.83.
“I think she improved a lot from her last start,” said winning jockey Dylan Davis. “She got a little more aggressive and she knew what she had to do again today. She showed more. Outside post again, and I could really sit off it and let her do what she wants. She was more aggressive coming out of there on a hot pace. She’s able to settle and she’s really versatile. She just waits for my cue and responds. She’s really nice to ride and the team did a good job with her again today.”
Italian Soiree, Atomic City, Dare to Breeze, Aguas de Cristal, pacesetter Anakarina, and Whatintheliteral completed the order of finish behind The Queens M G, a daughter of Thousand Words trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. and owned by the partnership of C Two Racing Stable and Mathis Stable. Social Fortress and White Sands scratched.
Joseph indicated the Aug. 31 Spinaway (G1) at Saratoga is next on the agenda for The Queens M G.
