The 2025 leading sire of two-year-olds and turf runners, Not This Time is off to another flying start in 2026. The son of Giant’s Causeway sired two graded stakes winners, both three-year-olds, on the Jan. 31 card at Gulfstream Park. Sophomore colt Nearly embarked on the Triple Crown trail by annexing the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull Stakes (G3), while sophomore filly On Time Girl triumphed in the seven-furlong Forward Gal Stakes (G3).

Nearly dominates the Holy Bull and earns Derby qualifying points

Nearly’s victory—his stakes debut and first race around two turns—wasn’t a close finish, as his name might suggest. The dark bay/brown colt romped home by 5 ¾ lengths in the Holy Bull, earning 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby (G1). Nearly sold for $350,000 to eventual owners Centennial Farms at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling sale, consigned by Denali Stud. The Florida-bred colt has won three straight races at Gulfstream, including his maiden victory last November; he kicked off this year by capturing a Jan. 2 allowance race. In a Gulfstream Park press release issued on Feb. 1, it was suggested that Nearly might next start in the March 28 Florida Derby (G1).

A wide-open Derby picture gives Nearly added importance on the trail

The race to the Run for the Roses is wider wide open than ever this year. Recently, news broke champion two-year-old colt Ted Noffey has had to exit the Derby trail due to bone bruising. In addition to Nearly, Not This Time has another Triple Crown candidate in Six Speed, who won the UAE Two Thousand Guineas (G3) on Jan. 23.

Nearly’s pedigree suggests stamina and further upside at classic distances

Not This Time has shown his versatility by siring grade 1 winners at sprint and classic distances alike. Nearly’s broodmare sire, 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft, had his own fair share of stamina, so Nearly may well be able to stretch out to longer distances with aplomb. Nearly’s female family is full of decent stakes horses, including his second dam, $360,273-earner Stormy Frolic and her half-brother, grade 2-winning millionaire Super Frolic; Stormy Frolic also foaled the stakes-winning Vindication filly Frolic’s Revenge, dam of 2026 UAE group 3 winner Drew’s Gold.

On Time Girl confirms her class with a decisive Forward Gal win

On Time Girl is similarly poised for a promising 2026. She entered the Forward Gal off a stakes win, this one coming in the Nov. 29 Fern Creek Stakes at Churchill Downs. Favored in the Forward Gal at odds of 1.10-1, On Time Girl delivered on that promise, serving up a three-length win. Owned by Albaugh Family Stables, LLC (Not This Time is a homebred for the Albaughs), well-bred. She is out of 2020 Pocahontas Stakes (G3) winner Girl Daddy (by Uncle Mo), who also placed in that year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). Her granddam is the Unbridled’s Song mare Cara Marie, a graded-placed stakes winner; her third dam is Miss Kilroy (by A.P. Indy), whose foals include graded-producing stakes winner Abby’s Angel and Irish classic-placed Miss Jean Brodie.

Not This Time already leads the way among sires of three-year-olds in 2026

Not This Time currently ranks sixth on the 2026 list of leading sires by progeny earnings. He does, however, sit atop the list of leading sires of three-year-olds by progeny earnings in 2026, outdistancing runner-up Constitution by over $30,000.