In Our Time secured the elusive G1 title missing from his record and now sets his sights on the Breeders’ Cup
- Turf Diario
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
The daughter of Not This Time dominated wire-to-wire in the Ladies Turf Sprint (G1) at Kentucky Downs, winning by 3 1/2 lengths as trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. now seriously considers targeting the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) at Keeneland
FRANKLIN, Kentucky (Special for Turf Diario).— In Our Time found Kentucky Downs to be the perfect venue to secure the signature victory of her career. The Resolute Racing and Miller Racing colorbearer led from wire-to-wire in the Never Say Die Ladies Turf Sprint (G1-1,300 m, $1,750,000), throwing the door wide open for a run at the upcoming Breeders’ Cup.
The daughter of Not This Time bested Time to Dazzle—a daughter of the same sire—by a dominant 3 1/2 lengths, earning a career-best 98 Beyer Speed Figure in the process.
The performance reinforced In Our Time’s particular affinity for the demanding European-style course at Kentucky Downs. In 2025, she won an allowance optional claimer over the same distance at the track just one week after finishing third in the Ladies Turf (G3).
“She loves this track,” acknowledged trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. “Some horses just take to Kentucky Downs, and she’s definitely one of them. I wish they held more races here so we could keep running her.”
That 2025 campaign proved In Our Time belonged alongside top-level company. Following her Kentucky Downs stint, she finished second in the Franklin Stakes (G2) at Keeneland before concluding her year with a runner-up effort in the Matriarch Stakes (G1) at Del Mar over two turns at a mile.
However, Joseph believes sprint distances around a single turn showcase her true talent.
“I think she’s better around one turn, even though she was second in a G1 in California around two turns. This year we chose to run her at 1,300 meters at Kentucky Downs because she seems to perform a bit better in shorter sprints,” he explained.
The decision could hardly have yielded better results. In Our Time broke swiftly to assume control and never relinquished command. Her superiority was fully reflected in the 3 1/2-length margin over Time to Dazzle, providing her with the elusive G1 triumph she had long pursued.
Her season had already featured a major highlight three starts prior, when she captured the Giant’s Causeway Stakes(G2-1,100 m) on the Keeneland turf. It is precisely at Keeneland where her next major challenge likely awaits.
Joseph no longer hides that the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1-1,000 m) on October 31 is a realistic option.
“I think she’s a legitimate Breeders’ Cup candidate. Last year we toyed with the idea after she ran third here, and this year she’s definitely going to be given much stronger consideration,” the trainer previewed.
The victory also provided a massive boost to In Our Time’s career earnings. Fueled by the lucrative purse, she nearly doubled her bankroll to $1,993,305 while maintaining remarkable consistency: she has finished in the top three in 15 of her 20 lifetime starts.
For top sire Not This Time, the race represented another banner result. In Our Time became his fourth G1 winner of 2026 and the 14th overall of his stallion career, capping off a 1-2 exactas sweep courtesy of Time to Dazzle.
Bred in Kentucky by Brian Kahn, In Our Time was purchased for $325,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. She is out of Laura’s Pleasure, by Cactus Ridge, who also produced stakes winner Important Mission(More Than Ready).
At age 5, In Our Time appears to have reached her career peak just as the countdown to the Breeders’ Cup begins.
With that missing G1 title now firmly on her resume, Keeneland awaits.
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