Gigante became the latest graded stakes winner for Not This Time with his gallant victory in the $500,000 Secretariat S. (G2) Saturday at Colonial Downs.

The 3-year-old colt, who was a two-time listed winner prior to Saturday’s victory, is now 4-0-1 in nine starts. Gigante is one of eight stakes winners, five of them graded winners, this year for Not This Time, who leads all Fourth-Crop sires with more than $7.5 million in progeny earnings.

Gigante settled at the back of the six-horse field, but was only five lengths from the lead after a half-mile in :48.03. He was forced to go three-wide on the turn as he made up ground to be less than a length from the lead turning for home. He took the lead from Major Dude with a furlong to go and gamely held off Nagirroc to win by a neck in 1:35.10 for the mile on the firm turf.

“I think I got along pretty good with this horse in the post parade,” said winning rider Javier Castellano, who was aboard for the first time. “He acted very professionally. I had the best trip in the race. I was where I wanted to be today. There seemed to be a lot of speed in the race. He broke so well from the gate and put me in a good position. I just took my time and rode with a lot of patience, a lot of confidence and had the best result today.”

Gigante’s earnings now stand at $583,550 for owners Iapetus Racing and Diamond T Racing. He was bred by Ann Mudge Backer and Smitten Farm.

Pedigree Notes from the TDN

Gigante is the 13th worldwide graded winner for Not This Time, who made headlines earlier in the week when a share to the Taylor Made stallion sold for $2 million at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. Among his 13 graded winners, Yes This Time, Cogburn and Up to the Mark all earned their wins over the turf.