Cogburn, North America's top grass sprinter, avenged a 2023 defeat over the undulating, European-style Kentucky Downs course—his only loss on grass—by dominating the $1,797,200 Ainsworth Turf Sprint Stakes (G2T) Sept. 7.
Unlike at Kentucky Downs in this same race last year, when was just off the early pace and checked in a close fifth, Cogburn took charge immediately in the six-furlong contest and was always in control under Irad Ortiz Jr. Throwing down splits of :21.82, :44.14, and :55.48, he pulled away to scored by 3 1/4 lengths under only mild pressure from Ortiz. The Steve Asmussen trainee, owned by Clark Brewster and Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt, hit the wire with a final time of 1:07.68.
"I didn't do much, to be honest, just hold it together and he took me all the way," Ortiz said.
The British-trained Khaadem, winner of Royal Ascot's Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1) in 2023-24, rallied to grab second.
A length farther behind, Axthelm nipped 2023 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) winner Nobals by a nose for the show.
Saturday's race was part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In, offering its winner a free, automatic paid berth into the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar. However, Cogburn already punched his ticket for the race by winning another Breeders' Cup Challenge race, the June 8 Jaipur Stakes (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course. That day he blitzed 5 1/2 furlongs in a North American record :59.80. He had been scheduled to race there again over the summer but was scratched from the Troy Stakes (G3) when rain forced it to the main track.
A month after the Jaipur, WinStar Farm announced it had partnered with his racing owners in acquiring the breeding rights to the 5-year-old son of Not This Time . Cogburn will stand at WinStar Farm upon his retirement from racing.
"What an amazing horse Cogburn is. What a wonderful ownership group," Asmussen said. "I'm so proud that it's the first time that he ran since WinStar bought into him, bought his breeding rights. For him to validate the form that he has shown all year long in his turf sprints is very special."
Cogburn missed a chance to pursue the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint last year when he was sidelined after his race at Kentucky Downs. He returned to action this May.
Before his success on turf, Cogburn was a three-time winner in eight dirt starts. As a juvenile, he broke his maiden at Churchill Downs on dirt in his second start, winning by 4 1/4 lengths in 1:09.79 for six furlongs. He has won nine of 15 starts overall.
Brewster bought Cogburn for $150,000 from the Pick View consignment at the 2021 Ocala Breeders' Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.
"Just a great horse, and even better partners. Just happy to be here," Brewster said after the race. "It was amazing."
Bellary Bloodstock bred Cogburn in Kentucky out of the Saintly Look stakes winner In a Jif, the dam of three winners from as many starters. A full brother to the grade 1 winner will be offered Sept. 9 on the first day of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale by consignor Taylor Made Sales Agency. Brewster co-bred the Book 1 yearling cataloged as Hip 84 with Taylor Made Stallions, John Cummins, et al.
Cogburn is among a group of elite runners sired by Not This Time, along with such notable runners as champions Epicenter and Up to the Mark . One of the top young stallions in North America, Not This Time stood the 2024 breeding season for $150,000 at Taylor Made Stallions in Kentucky.
