Just as he did in 2023, Not This Time’s Gigante closed out the year with a stakes win over the Fair Grounds turf course.

Gigante’s season-ending victory came in the $100,000 Buddy Diliberto Memorial S. on Dec. 21. In 2023, Gigante finished his 3-year-old campaign by taking the $100,000 Woodchopper S.

The Diliberto went postward with just five horses, with Gigante sitting about four lengths off a dawdling pace of :50.95 for the half-mile. Despite Swiftsure getting six furlongs in a very slow 1:15.91, Gigante was closing ground. He took the lead with a furlong to run and held off Idratherbeblessed to win by a length in 1:45.62.

Now with six stakes wins to his credit, topped by last year’s Secretariat S. (G2), Gigante is 7-1-2 in 18 starts and has earned $1,127,650 for Diamond T Racing LLC and Iapetus Racing LLC.

The winner was bred by Ann Mudge Backer and Smitten Farm.

Not This Time has accounted for 17 stakes winners this year, with progeny earnings nearing $13 million. Among his nine graded winners are Grade 1 winners Sacred Wish and Cogburn.