Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Nearly

Nearly
Not This Time – Ib Prospecting, by Mineshaft
Bred in Florida by Wind Hill Farm ($350,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Centennial Farms)

Not This Time, one of the nation’s leading sires, is already firmly established with candidates on the road to the 2026 Kentucky Derby and Oaks. Last Saturday at Gulfstream, he swept respective points races for both spring classics, with Nearly winning the Grade 3 Holy Bull and On Time Girl winning the Grade 3 Forward Gal for fillies. With his victory, Nearly moved to the top of trainer Todd Pletcher’s Derby hopefuls, and to the top of Daily Racing Form’s initial Derby Watch line.

Not This Time, second to seven-time reigning leader Into Mischief among North American general sires in 2025, led both the 2-year-old and turf sire lists. Off his strong year with juveniles, he leads all sires with 16 individuals currently nominated to the Triple Crown. Nearly is joined by another son of Not This Time, Blackout Time, on the initial Derby Watch list.

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Not This Time, the leading heir to Giant’s Causeway in the United States, is the sire of 2022 Kentucky Derby runner-up and Eclipse Award champion 3-year-old Epicenter. He is a versatile stallion, with champion turf horse Up to the Mark – who won at up to 1 1/4 miles – dirt marathon specialist Next, and prominent turf sprinters Cogburn and Cy Fair to his credit.

Ib Prospecting earned both her wins at six furlongs in claiming company. Nearly is the first winner from two starters to date for the mare, who died in 2025. Despite her profile, this is a versatile female family, with plenty of stakes success on both dirt and turf, mainly at middle to route distances.

Ib Prospecting is out of Stormy Frolic, a four-time stakes winner at up to 1 1/16 miles and the dam of Frolic’s Revenge, who had similar accomplishments. Stormy Frolic is out of Lindsay Frolic, who won at distances from 4 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/8 miles. Her biggest of seven stakes victories came in the Grade 3 Sabin at a mile and 70 yards. In addition to stakes winner Stormy Frolic, Lindsay Frolic also produced millionaire Super Frolic, who won the Grade 2 Hawthorne Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles and was multiple Grade 1-placed, and Famous Frolic, a minor stakes winner at 1 1/2 miles.

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