By Christina Bossinakis
In a pair of prior starts facing statebreds, Innergy Racing Corp. and Alfred Pais's Unrivaled Time (Not This Time) had closed well in the late stages while showing marked improvement. Closing from the back of a 10-horse field going a mile at Del Mar on Aug. 29, the bay was situated a bit closer to the pace last time, while trying the same distance at Santa Anita on Oct. 19. Finishing full of run when winning as the 2-1 choice for Leonard Powell and jockey Diego Herrera that day, the homebred was given a 5-1 chance in Sunday's GIII Cecil B. DeMille Stakes at Del Mar while a crew that included Grade III winner Hey Nay Nay (Ire) (No Nay Never), who was looking to regain the winning thread after a lackluster 10th in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at the seaside oval on Halloween.
Showing early foot from his inside draw, Laurel Futurity winner Proton (Astern {Ire}) went to the front while the flashy Track Tiger (Sharp Azteca) gave chase from a higher draw.
While both Unrivaled Time and Hey Nay Nay were content to stalk as Proton carved out an opening quarter in :22.97, Track Tiger was eager to get to the fore and sprinted to the front following a half in :47.52. Regaining the lead leaving the far turn and approaching the quarter pole, 7-2 Proton was still narrowly in front straightening for home as Unrivaled Time, who was closely pursued by Hey Nay Nay, was within striking distance.
The leader gave up the advantage midstretch as Unrivaled Time poked a head in front with Iriseach (Ire) (Ubettabelieveit {Ire}) in hot pursuit along the outside, and despite some jostling in the late stages, it was Unrivaled Time that was able to hold on to a half-length score over Iriseach with Hey Nay Nay a close third.
Prompted by a rider's objection, the Stewards had a long look at the stretch drive when the favorite appeared to alter course in the final strides, however, the result ultimately remained unchanged.
“He just kept showing signs of improvement over the summer,” said winning rider Diego Herrera. “I just wanted to make sure he was in a good comfortable rhythm. [Hey Nay Nay] was coming in, you know, he bumped me a little bit coming into the stretch and I was just trying to keep my horse as straight as possible.”
“The sky is the limit for him,” added Herrera. “He just wants to get out there a run. You know, he showed a lot of maturity.”
Powell was equally impressed with the colt's progress from Cal-bred company.
“I was very happy with our position early on and very happy with how the race unfolded,” he said. “He let a couple of speed horses go for it and settled then came with one run like he did when he broke his maiden. He broke his maiden against Cal-breds and the question mark was he good enough to step up and the answer is 'yes'.”
Pedigree Notes:
Bred in California by Alfred Pais, Unrivaled Time is out of Margot Machance (GB) (Creachadoir {Ire}), a three-time winner that won for a $20,000 tag in a 23-start racing career for Pais. Her most notable offspring, Margot's Boy (Clubhouse Ride), also ended up winning in the claiming ranks late in his career, however, was a narrowly-beaten second in the 2020 renewal of the GII Del Mar Derby.
Subsequent to Unrivaled Time, the English-bred mare produced a filly by Mr. Big last season. She was bred back to Brickyard Ride for 2026.
With Sunday DeMille score, Unrivaled Time becomes the 55th graded/group winner for Taylor Made's standout sire Not This Time.
Sunday, Del Mar
CECIL B. DEMILLE S.-GIII, $101,000, Del Mar, 11-30, 2yo, 1mT, 1:36.42, fm.
1–UNRIVALED TIME, 120, c, 2, by Not This Time
1st Dam: Margot Machance (GB), by Creachadoir (Ire)
2nd Dam: Margot Mine (Ire), by Choisir (Aus)
3rd Dam: Delisha (GB), by Salse
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O-Innergy Racing Corp and Pais, Alfred; B-Alfred A. Pais (CA); T-Leonard Powell; J-Diego A. Herrera. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $97,600. *1/2 to Margot's Boy (Clubhouse Ride), GSP, $395,626. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Iriseach (Ire), 120, c, 2, Ubettabelieveit (Ire)–Max's Dandy (Ire), by Dandy Man (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. (15,000gns 2yo '25 TAOJN). O-Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, McLean Racing Stables, Strand Beach LLC and Nentwig, Michael; B-Hyde Park Stud (IRE); T-Philip D'Amato. $20,000.
3–Hey Nay Nay (Ire), 124, c, 2, No Nay Never–Travel, by Street Cry (Ire). ($300,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). O-Hronis Racing LLC and Iapetus Racing LLC; B-Lynch Bages, Camas Park & Summerhill B/S (IRE); T-John W. Sadler. $12,000.
Margins: 3/4, NK, 3/4. Odds: 5.50, 10.10, 0.50.
Also Ran: Proton, Caro Buono (Fr), Brigante, Track Tiger.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
It's official! 🏆
Unrivaled Time splits horses to capture the Grade III Cecil B DeMille Stakes under @JockeyHerrera. pic.twitter.com/4qHWzSWugN
— Del Mar Racetrack (@DelMarRacing) November 30, 2025
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