Next

Next won his first career stakes race on June 26, 2021. He went gate-to-wire in the War Chant Stakes at Churchill Downs, covering a mile on the turf in 1:35.09 under jockey John Velazquez. 

Next began to show his long-distance dirt credentials in a 1 1/2-mile race that was taken off the turf at Delaware Park on Sept. 8, 2022, when he won the $157,000 Cape Henlopen Stakes by 18 1/4 lengths. Next followed up that breakthrough win on the Breeders' Cup Friday undercard on Nov. 4, when he went wire-to-wire to win the Grade 2 $350,000 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes at 1 5/8 miles on the dirt.

Next made his 5-year-old debut in return from a six-month layoff with a third-place finish at 1 1/2 miles on the main track at Churchill Downs in the Isaac Murphy Marathon on May 3. With that outing under his belt, Next was ready to roll in his next start which came at Belmont Park on June 10 in the Grade 2 $200,000 Brooklyn Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on the main track. Sent off as the 3.35-1 third choice on the tote board in a field of 10 horses in the Brooklyn, Next took charge on the lead from the start and coasted wire-to-wire in a time of 2:31.01 to win by 2 1/4 lengths.

Next continued his winning ways in long distance dirt races through the 2023 season.  He won the $150,000 Birdstone Stakes at Saratoga going 1 3/4 miles by 11 3/4 lengths on July 27. He added another win on the Pennsylvania Derby Day undercard at Parx when he won the $200,000 Grade 3 Greenwood Cup going 1 1/2 miles by 25 lengths on a sloppy race track.

Following that dominant victory, Next was given more than seven months off before beginning his 6-year-old campaign in the Isaac Murphy Marathon Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs May 1, 2024. He proved much the best as the odds-on favorite in an eight-horse field, drawing well cleat to prevail by 11 ¾ lengths.

The gelding extended his winning streak to five with yet another decisive score July 5 in the Grade 2 Brooklyn Stakes at Aqueduct, where he rated just off the pace in the early stages of the 1 3/8-mile race before taking command in the stretch for a 9 ¼-length runaway victory.

Having won his first two races in 2024 by a combined 20 ½ lengths, Next was properly made the overwhelming .05-1 favorite squaring off against only four rivals as he tried to repeat in the 1 ¾-length Birdstone Stakes Aug. 3 at Saratoga. He sat just off the early pace set by Time for Trouble, took over when that rival was pulled up and taken out of the race, and was never seriously challenged thereafter, romping by 22 ¼ lengths in front of a cheering crowd.

Next is a homebred for owners Silverton Hill LLC. He's sired by graded stakes winner Not This Time, out of multiple stakes-placed mare Bahia Beach.