Not This Time got his 13th stakes winner of the year Sunday when Dr. Blute won the $250,000 Empire Classic S. in front-running fashion at the Belmont at Big A meet.
Not This Time, who leads the Third-Crop Sire list by black type winners, graded winners, and progeny earnings, and is in the top 10 on the 2022 General Sire list, will have a chance to add to his totals with Epicenter and Simplification both entered in races for Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup.
Dr. Blute’s excellent performance was the highlight Sunday, however. The chestnut was very quick out of the gate and established a one-length lead after a quarter-mile in :23.97. Sea Foam was within a half-length after six furlongs, but Dr. Blute re-broke at the top of the stretch and opened up by two lengths with a furlong to go. Curlin’s Wisdom closed late, but could get no closer than three-quarters of a length at the wire.
“Going longer in general made him a much better horse,” trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. told the DRF by phone from Florida. “We felt like he would stretch out going two turns, obviously he had to do it before we could be certain about it and he handled it quite well.”
Dr. Blute is now 3-2-3 in 11 starts and has earned $301,550 for owner Flanagan Racing. The 4-year-old was bred by Hidden Lake Farm LLC and Axle Ahlschwede.
