Epicenter and Simplification, a pair of 3-year-old colts by leading Third-Crop sire Not This Time, will run in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and Dirt Mile (G1), respectively, Saturday at Keeneland.
The duo, both graded winners this year, are two of Not This Time’s 13 stakes winners in 2022.
Epicenter brings rock-solid credentials into the Classic. Winner of the Travers S. (G1) in his most recent start, the Winchell Thoroughbreds colt placed second in both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness S. (G1) before winning the Jim Dandy S. (G2).
Regular rider Joel Rosario will get a leg up from trainer Steve Asmussen for the Classic. The bay colt drew six in the field of eight. The Classic is race 11 at 5:40 p.m. ET.
Epicenter has a solid claim for 3-year-old of the year honors, and a win in the Classic would put him squarely into contention for Horse of the Year as well.
Simplification, who won the Fountain of Youth S. (G2) in March, will be contesting the one-mile distance for the first time since winning Gulfstream Park’s Mucho Macho Man S. by four lengths on New Year’s Day.
Trained by Antonio Sano for Tami Bobo and Tristan De Meric, Simplification placed in the Florida Derby (G1) and was beaten just 3 ½-lengths in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
The bay colt drew post 2 for Saturday’s fifth race, with a post time of 1:10 p.m. ET.