Turf Sprinter Cogburn Sizzles in Record Time in Jaipur

The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival acts like a mid-season Breeders' Cup, with nine grade 1 flat races featuring some of the best horses in North America. And some of the fastest—one being Cogburn, who zipped to a 3 1/2-length victory in the Jaipur Stakes (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course with 5 1/2 furlongs in a record :59.80. According to Equibase, he clocked the fastest time ever at the distance in North America, whether on turf or dirt. Carotari previously held the fastest 5 1/2-furlong record in North America in winning an allowance turf race at Saratoga in 1:00.21 in 2019. Splits of Saturday's race by front-running Cogburn were similarly quick: :21.33, :43.07, and :54. "Five and a half furlongs in under a minute," Asmussen noted. "That's not five-eighths; that's 5 1/2. That's basically a sixteenth of a mile faster than a fast horse." He further relished winning the race for his respected clients, owners Clark Brewster and Corinne and Bill Heiligbrodt. "What could be cooler than this?" Asmussen asked. "So fast. I can't believe it," said winning rider Irad Ortiz Jr., who did not need to urge his mount over the final 70 yards. Ortiz won the Jaipur for the third time after consecutive Jaipur victories aboard Disco Partner in 2017-18. The race marked Cogburn's second graded stakes triumph in as many starts this year. On Kentucky Derby (G1) day at Churchill Downs, he won the Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes (G2T) by 2 1/4 lengths. He is now 5-for-6 on grass, a record that includes a victory in the 2023 Troy Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga. In discussing long-term plans, Asmussen said he intends to run Cogburn in the $2 million Turf Sprint (G2T) at Kentucky Downs before the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) at Del Mar, a race for which he earned an automatic paid berth with Saturday's victory. The Jaipur is a part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In. Favored among the field of 12 in the Jaipur, he paid $6.30 to win "We were so proud of him at Churchill when he won the grade 2 sprint there and of course the Troy last year, but that was impressive. I mean, he just rolled down there," Brewster said. Shakertown Stakes (G2T) winner Arzak rallied from 10th to grab second. Both 5-year-old Cogburn and 6-year-old Arzak are sons of Not This Time. Arzak finished a neck ahead of Godolphin's overseas invader Star of Mystery (GB), a 3-year-old filly taking on older males. Bred in Kentucky by Bellary Bloodstock, Cogburn is out of the stakes-winning Saintly Look mare In a Jif. He was a $150,000 purchase by Brewster at the 2021 Ocala Breeders' Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, where he was consigned by Pick View. Not This Time, the eighth-leading sire in North America of 2023, again ranks among the leaders this year. He stands for $150,000 at Taylor Made Stallions near Nicholasville, Ky.