SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Next, who has improved dramatically since first stretching out around three turns late last summer, will attempt to add the $150,000 Birdstone to his growing list of long-distance accomplishments when trying a mile and three-quarters for the first time Thursday at Saratoga. Next has won three of his last four starts by an average margin of nearly nine lengths, including a pair of Grade 2 stakes, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance in his 2022 finale last fall at Keeneland and the Brooklyn at Belmont Park six weeks ago. Next’s lone blemish going three turns came in his 2023 debut, when he finished a tiring third coming off a six-month layoff in the Isaac Murphy Marathon. Trainer Doug Cowans said he did not have him quite cranked up for his best effort. “I gave him some time on the farm after the Aftercare Stakes at Keeneland because there were really none of these marathon races out there, and when I brought him back I ran into a situation where I really didn’t have enough time,” Cowans explained. “The choice was to wait for the Brooklyn, which was our goal, or run him at Churchill Downs and use the race as a stepping-stone for the next one. I chose the latter plan and it worked out well when he won the Brooklyn.” Cowans claimed Next for $62,500 in the interests of owner Michael Foster in April of 2022 and admitted it was not with the idea of turning him into a marathon horse. :: Get Saratoga Clocker Reports from Mike Welsch and the Clocker Team. Available every race day.  “After evaluating him and watching his breezes I realized he had an uncanny way of having a lot of stamina so I had it in my mind, at some point, to stretch him out,” Cowans said. Those things don’t always work out, but in this case it did.” Next has been most effective when on the lead, and Cowans is a bit concerned he could find himself challenged for the front end in the Birdstone. “This race has quite a bit more speed in it than his others and that’s always concerning when you have a horse who goes to the front,” said Cowans. “The key for him is that he needs to get into a rhythm, whether he’s on the lead or not. If he gets into a good rhythm, I’m not concerned where he’s placed. I’d expect him to run very well.” Next will face six rivals, including the 8-year-old veteran Lone Rock, who registered a popular four-length victory in the 2021 Birdstone and finished third in this event last summer. Lone Rock is coming off arguably the poorest performance of his outstanding career when beaten 23 3/4 lengths in the Isaac Murphy, finishing far behind Next. A couple of horses in peak form but who are question marks at the distance, The Skipper Too and Dash Attack, could prove upset threats while making their first starts beyond nine furlongs. :: DRF's 2023 Saratoga headquarters: Previews, past performances, picks, recaps, news, and more. The Skipper Too ships up from Gulfstream Park off a pair of wins, including a 1 1/16-mile overnight handicap on July 2 for which he received a career-best 93 Beyer Speed Figure. Dash Attack also posted his top Beyer number, an 89, winning a one-mile allowance race last month at Ellis Park that was switched from the turf to a good main track. Dash Attack showed a fondness for the local surface when turning in a very fast work here on Saturday. Sea Foam is a horse for the course. He has won four times and finished first or second in six of seven starts over Saratoga’s main track, but is winless since capturing the 1 1/18-mile Alex M. Robb Stakes for New York-breds at Aqueduct on the final day of the 2021 season. He is also a question mark at the distance. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.