What are the odds? What are the odds that the first horse you buy produces a smashing debut that stamps him as one of the nation’s leading 2-year-olds and a top contender for the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance?

Well, the father-son team of Elza and Alex Mitchum beat those astronomical odds when It’s Our Time more than justified their purchase of him as a $425,000 yearling with an auspicious 17 ¾-length romp on Aug. 16 at Saratoga.

A dominant debut for It's Our Time (Eclipse Sportswire)

“It’s like a fairy tale, I guess,” said Elza, 80. “It’s really thrilling for us.”

The Mitchums compete as Double Down Horse Racing. They hope their Not This Time colt will double down on his geared-down debut in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes on Saturday at Aqueduct. The winner of the tradition-rich, one-mile race, part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, receives an automatic, fees-paid berth tin the Juvenile.

Racehorse ownership had been a lifelong dream for Elza. Given his age, he decided it was about time to act. He had watched trainer Tom Amoss on FOX broadcasts, had been impressed by him, and placed the call.

Elza introduced himself, spoke of his willingness to spend a significant amount at Keeneland’s September yearling sale and promised to follow up the next day. When there was no second call, Amoss thought he might have been pranked.

Amoss, who has lacked spending power for much of his career, decided to follow up as the sale approached. Elza reiterated his interest and the search was on for talent. A Virginia-bred that became It’s Our Time made the short list for the trainer and his team. To all appearances, he possessed the body and mind to flourish.

“I thought he was very athletic looking. I liked him conformationally,” Amoss recalled. “He just had a presence about him, an aura, that I really liked. He wasn’t bothered by everything around him. He was very curious.”

Elza, who has enjoyed success with C & M Industries and other family ventures, anticipated the colt would be expensive. That did not faze him.

It's Our Time after debut win (Eclipse Sportswire)

“The first horse I bid on,” he said, “I wasn’t going to stop.”

The Mitchum’s wound up spending $1,065,000 on two colts and three fillies. They doubled down by spending another $1.4 million on two colts and two fillies at Keeneland’s most recent   sale.

“If we’re going to do it,” Alex said, “we’re going to do it right and put our best foot forward.”

The family is equally all-in when it comes to charitable donations. Among many causes, they are tremendous supporters of the athletic programs at Old Dominion University and, to a lesser degree, Clemson. They also fund research into ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease.

“We always want to give back,” Elza said. “The Lord blessed us. We try to bless other people.”

Perhaps good things do indeed happen to good people. It’s Our Time walked into the Saratoga paddock as if he owned the upstate New York track, filling Amoss with optimism.

“It’s Saratoga, so I can’t say I thought he would win first time out. I thought he’d make a respectable showing,” the trainer said. “When he got to the paddock, I could see how professional he was. He was very focused, no hollering or anything like that, which you can get with first-time starters. He was a real focused athlete in the paddock.”

Despite being bumped at the start of the 6 ½-furlong contest, he retained that focus when the running began. He settled into second behind heavily-favored Hero Declared through the opening half-mile. Soon after that, jockey Luis Saez signaled it was time and his mount vigorously responded.

Alex, with 6-year-old daughter Sloan in his arms, sprang into action. “Come on five!” he shouted. So did Sloan. She threw a fist into the air as she echoed her dad. “Come on five!”

It’s Our Time roared off, stirring hopes and dreams of not just the Juvenile on Oct. 31 at Del Mar but of the 2026 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve. Emotions ran high as the Mitchums hurried to the winner’s circle.

A dominant debut winner. (Eclipse Sportswire)

“The father had tears running down his race. I’ll never forget that,” Amoss said. “That is the whole reason that I, going back to my middle-school years, wanted to be involved in racing, wanted to be involved in something I was really passionate about. It was almost a rejuvenating feeling for me about being in the business. I’ll carry that with me for a long time.”

So will Alex.

“It was really special for me to see my dad accomplish his last goal in life, to own a horse and to win a race,” he said. “To do it in that fashion was just the cherry on top.”

The Champagne Stakes is next as an important proving ground for every starter, but especially for It’s Our Time.

“He’s a very much talked about horse,” Amoss said. “I think it’s safe to say he has a bit of a target on his back. Everyone knows he’s the guy, he’s the guy to beat.”

Whatever the future holds, the first horse the Mitchums bought already has created cherished memories, memories to last a lifetime.