Before establishing his brilliance as a sire at Taylor Made Stallions in Central Kentucky, Not This Time was a high-class racehorse for Albaugh Family Stables, winning the Iroquois Stakes (G3) in 2016 at Churchill Downs and finishing second that fall in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita Park for trainer Dale Romans.
Now, Albaugh Family Stables is taking its shot with one of Not This Time's sons. On Sept. 10, Day 3 of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, the stable purchased Hip 480, a chestnut Not This Time colt for $1.35 million with partners West Point Thoroughbreds, Vinny Viola's St. Elias Stables, and Railbirds. As of 2:45 p.m. ET, he was the session topper.
Dennis Albaugh, head of Albaugh Family Stables, marveled at the success of Not This Time on the racetrack and the stallion's commercial appeal at the sales. Not This Time was a homebred for Albaugh Family Stables, produced from the Trippi mare Miss Macy Sue.
"The only negative is we're trying to buy them. ...we're having to pay up our own bloodstock," he said. "It couldn't be better, and we are very fortunate."
Albaugh was accompanied by his son-in-law, Jason Loutsch, the stable's racing manager and a co-owner in the Iowa-based Albaugh Family Stables. Loutsch said they thought Hip 480 was "the best Not This Time of the sale."
"It's a great cross with Candy Ride," he added. "So we're really excited for the opportunity to partner up with Vinnie and West Point. Couldn't be more happy to get the colt."
Loutsch noted the versatility of the progeny of Not This Time, the second-leading sire in North America behind reigning six-time leading general sire Into Mischief through Sept. 9. Not This Time stood this past breeding season for $175,000.
"I mean, they run on everything, every distance," he said."That's what is so important to all these buyers. If they don't run on dirt, try them on turf—they are all going to run."
Terry Finley, founder and president of West Point Thoroughbreds, signed the sales ticket for the purchase of Hip 480. West Point and Albaugh Family Stables have partnered previously on horses.
West Point has been successful in teaming with other owners to acquire pricey yearlings before their eventual racetrack success, with 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline being a notable success story.
Albaugh said after the purchase that a trainer for the horse had not yet been determined, noting it had been their sole focus to purchase the horse. Trainer Dale Romans, who raced Not This Time, was part of the group of individuals seated near the owner in the Keeneland sales pavilion.
Bred in Kentucky by Whisper Hill Farm, Gainesway Thoroughbreds, and Gainesway general manager Brian Graves out of the Candy Ride mare Ridingwiththedevil, Hip 480 is a half brother to the multiple grade 1-placed Reinvestment Risk. Gainesway consigned the colt.
