Not This Time
Just when you think Not This Time can’t get any better as a stallion, he does! The CHC stallion was represented by four winners Saturday, topped by the mighty Magnitude, who defeated three of the top older horses in training in the $2-million GI Stephen Foster S. at Churchill Downs.
Undefeated so far this season, Magnitude kicked off 2026 with a facile victory in Oaklawn’s GIII Razorback H. Sent to Meydan following that effort, he beat 2025 GI Breeders’ Cup Classic hero Forever Young (Jpn) in the $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup in March.
The field for the Stephen Foster was small, but mighty, with Magnitude facing the likes of reigning Horse of the Year and dual Classic winner Sovereignty, six-time Grade I winner and Breeders’ Cup Classic victor White Abarrio and GI Pennsylvania Derby conqueror Baeza.
Breaking through the gate pre-race, Magnitude did not get flustered and went right to the front for Jose Ortiz when the gates sprung. He simply ran them off their feet, holding off a late-rallying Baeza for a decisive victory. With that win, he is a leading contender for Horse of the Year honors and certainly cements his status as top older male in training this year.
Not This Time was also represented Saturday by Texas Turf Classic winner Giocoso, decisive allowance winner and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Blackout Time and $3.4-million Saratoga Sale topper Faran, who captured his debut at Los Alamitos.
Thanks to Magnitude, Not This Time leads all stallions this year by earnings, but he also has the most graded stakes winners with 10 and the most black-type winners with 16. His other Grade I winners this year are Turf Classic victory Rhetorical and Apple Blossom heroine Claret Beret.
CHC stallion Constitution also had a successful Saturday with a pair of stakes winners at Churchill Downs. The 6-year-old Harrodsburg went right to the front and did not look back, capturing the GIII Bango S. sprinting in the slop. On the same card, Pin Up Betty got back to winning form with a two-length score in the Anchorage S. going long on the grass.