Fresh off a terrific 2021 as the leading Second-Crop Sire in North America, Not This Time got his first stakes winner of 2022 on New Year’s Day when Simplification rolled to a four-length win in the $150,000 Mucho Macho Man S. at Gulfstream Park.

The victory was also the first stakes win for the 3-year-old colt, who broke his maiden by an eye-popping 16 ¾-lengths in October.

Simplification was making his first start beyond six furlongs on Saturday, and went to the lead right away without urging from jockey Javier Castellano. He clicked off solid fractions of :45.70 and 1:09.96 to be up a length at the top of the stretch. Castellano asked his mount for run, and Simplification rocketed away from the field to win full of run.

He covered the mile on the fast track in 1:35.04.

“He was happy and satisfied on the lead, galloping along, and when I asked him he took off and re-broke at the quarter pole. I liked the way he did it,” said Castellano. “I felt like he did it very easy, in a nice way. I didn’t see the fractions, but he did a very comfortable, relaxed pace. I liked the way he galloped out. I don’t think he’ll have any problem stretching out. He’s well-bred and has a good foundation. Fingers crossed.”

“Right now we’re going on to the Holy Bull (G3, Feb. 5). I think it’s perfect,” said trainer Antonio Sano in reference to the colt’s next start.

Simplification is owned by Tami Bobo and is now 2-0-1 in four starts and has earned $125,270. The winner was bred by France and Irwin Weiner and is the first foal out of stakes-placed Simply Confection.

With a pair of stakes winners to his credit last Saturday, Not This Time has three stakes winners in the past seven days. After last year’s championship season, he is standing in 2022 for $45,000 S&N.