Workouts: Dirt stayer Next is 1 of 9 graded winners on the tab
Next, who won the 1 3/4-mile Birdstone Stakes nearly two months ago at Saratoga, had a bullet breeze Thursday on another light morning for graded-stakes winners on the work tab.
The 5-year-old Not This Time gelding owned by Michael Foster was clocked at 59.8 seconds for his five-furlong workout on the Tapeta track at Turfway Park. That was the fastest of 15 breezes over the course and distance Thursday.
Stakes Tracker: See where these workers may race next.
Trainer Doug Cowans has been aiming Next toward the Sept. 23 running of the 1 1/2-mile, $200,000 Greenwood Cup (G3) at Parx Racing.
Nine graded-stakes winners were on Thursday work tabs across America.
Next (Not This Time), a two-time Grade 2 winner (2023 Brooklyn, 2022 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance), worked five furlongs in 59.8 seconds at Turfway Park on Thursday morning. It was the fastest of 15 works at the distance. His previous work was nine days ago going five furlongs at Turfway Park. In his last start he won the Birdstone going 1 3/4 miles on the main track at Saratoga on July 27 for trainer Doug Cowans.
Astronaut (Quality Road), a two-time Grade 2 winner (2022 Red Smith, 2021 Del Mar Handicap), worked five furlongs in 1:01.9 at Belmont Park. It was the third fastest of four works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going four furlongs at Belmont Park. In his last start he placed 10th in the Mac Diarmida (G2) going 1 3/8 miles on the turf at Gulfstream Park on March 4 for trainer Tom Albertrani.
Somelikeithotbrown (Big Brown), a two-time Grade 2 winner (2021 Dinner Party, 2020 Bernard Baruch Handicap), worked four furlongs in 51.3 seconds at Belmont Park. It was the 58th fastest of 62 works at the distance. His previous work was 28 days ago going five furlongs at Belmont Park. In his last start he placed second in the Hudson Valley going one mile on the turf at Belmont Park on July 3 for trainer Mike Maker.
Helium (Ironicus), a Grade 2 winner (2021 Tampa Bay Derby), worked four furlongs in 48.4 seconds at Parx Racing. It was the second fastest of 24 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he won a starter allowance race going one mile and 70 yards on the main track at Parx Racing on Aug. 28 for trainer Jamie Ness.
Manny Wah (Will Take Charge), a Grade 2 winner (2022 Phoenix), worked five furlongs in 1:00.0 at Keeneland. It was the fastest of six works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going five furlongs at Keeneland. In his last start he placed fifth in an allowance race going 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track at Keeneland on April 8 for trainer Wayne Catalano.
Newgrange (Violence), a Grade 2 winner (2023 San Pasqual), worked five furlongs in 1:01.2 at Los Alamitos. It was the fourth fastest of five works at the distance. His previous work was 11 days ago going five furlongs at Los Alamitos. In his last start he placed seventh in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) going 1 1/4 miles on the main track at Santa Anita on March 4 for trainer Phil D’Amato.
Danse Macabre (Army Mule), a Grade 3 winner (2023 Herecomesthebride), worked four furlongs in 51.0 seconds at Churchill Downs. It was the 50th fastest of 56 works at the distance. This was her first work since her last race. In her last start she placed second in the Music City (G3) going 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 2 for trainer Kelsey Danner.
Gregorian Chant (Gregorian), a Grade 3 winner (2021 San Simeon), worked three furlongs in 36.8 seconds at Los Alamitos. It was the fastest of seven works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going three furlongs at Los Alamitos. In his last start he placed third in the Joe Hernández (G2) going 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf at Santa Anita on Dec. 31 for D’Amato.
Promise Keeper (Constitution), a Grade 3 winner (2021 Peter Pan), worked four furlongs in 49.2 seconds at Churchill Downs. It was the 29th fastest of 56 works at the distance. His previous work was 10 days ago going four furlongs at Churchill Downs. In his last start he placed ninth in the Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (G3) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Prairie Meadows on July 8 for trainer Dallas Stewart.