Not This Time chalked up his 28th stakes winner of 2026 Saturday at Fair Grounds when Not This Boy forged a three-quarter length victory in the $100,000 Tenacious S.
The victory marked the first stakes win in the 4-year-old’s career. The dark bay had finished second in both the 2024 Ellis Park Derby and West Virginia Governor’s S. prior to his breakthrough victory.
Not This Time leads all North American sires by number of stakes winners, as well as average earnings by starter, at $79,825.
Not This Boy and Komorebino Omoide locked up in a duel for the lead early in the 1 1/16-mile contest, and stayed side-by-side until a furlong to go, when Not This Boy began to pull away. He held off the late charge of Sir Greylind to stop the timer in 1:42.69, less than a second off the track record.
“I talked to [jockey] Jose [Ortiz] in the paddock and told him the horse likes to be forwardly placed,” said trainer William Cowans. “I knew [Komorebino Omoide] had a little bit of speed so when we outbroke him and took the lead, I was a little nervous when he bounced outside and pushed us along. Jose did a great job to get him to relax and the horse is a strong fighter. Once he gets on the lead he’s tough to get by.”
A homebred for Zimmer Ridge Ranch, Not This Boy is 4-4-1 in nine starts and has earned $349,536.
