Not This Time’s Cogburn Defies Layoff, Post In TwinSpires Turf Sprint

[Wandering Eyes]

LOUISVILLE, KY-Sharp as a razor exiting the far gate, Clark Brewster and William and Corinne Heiligbrodt's Cogburn (Not This Time) wasted not time dusting off the cobwebs, coming home a 2 1/4-length winner in the GII Twin Spires Turf Sprint early on Saturday's Derby Day card.

Given an 8-1 chance will making his 2024 debut, the 5-year-old broke in front but allowed Coppola (Into Mischief) and Mo Stash (Mo Town) to show the way through a :22.61 opening quarter over a course labeled 'good'. Taking a slight edge from the outside coming out of the far turn, Cogburn lost some ground as Coppola cut the corner in front turning for home, but the Steve Asmussen trainee was clearly best on the day, drawing clear to score comfortably over Filo Di Arianna (Brz) (Drosselmeyer). Mischief Magic (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) closed to grab third.

“He was sharp, [Asmussen] had him ready today,” said winning rider Irad Ortiz Jr. “The way he broke, Steve told me he was ready. He was running so good, there was no stopping him.”

Graded placed on the dirt, Cogburn took four of seven starts last season, highlighted by three consecutive wins when switching to the turf in Lone Star's Chamberlain Bridge S., Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint and the GIII Troy S. in Saratoga. Making one more start at four, he finished fifth in the GII Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs Sept. 9 and was packed away for the remainder of the season.

“He has [found a home on turf],” said Asmussen. “Obviously, his turf races are beyond excellent and we're very fortunate to have him. That is typical of him [to break that well]. I was so concerned about the outside draw and he took care of that in one jump.”

When asked if there were any concerns coming off a seven-month respite, the Hall of Fame trainer said, “We thought he was doing extremely well coming into the race, this was a very big race coming off the layoff. We were concerned when he drew the 14 hole, that's a lot to overcome. But his break cleared that problem. That's what he's capable of and that's what we'll be getting to campaign the rest of the year.”

 

Pedigree Notes:
Cogburn is one of three foals out of In a Jif to race, and all three have found the winner's circle. He also has a 3-year-old sister by Classic Empire named Empire of My Own.

 

 

The G2 Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes presented by @sentientjet goes to Cogburn and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr! pic.twitter.com/4T8dmXqo9U

— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) May 4, 2024

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