OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Next, the premier marathon dirt horse in training, gets another opportunity to do what he does best when he heads a field of seven in Friday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Brooklyn Stakes at Aqueduct. Since being stretched out to marathon distances in fall 2022, Next has won 6 of 7 starts – all stakes – with four of those wins coming by a minimum of 11 lengths. Those races were at distances from 1 1/2 miles to 1 3/4 miles. The Brooklyn, at 1 3/8 miles, represents the shortest distance at which Next has run since he finished fourth in a turf allowance going 1 1/16 miles at Ellis Park on July 16, 2022. “I was a little worried about that to be honest with you,” trainer Doug Cowans said. “I said if he gets beat, it’ll be this race. It’s a little shorter than he really likes. ”Cowans was laughing when he said it as Next has been well in front at the midstretch marker in his recent wins. Next has made just one start since his 25-length romp in the slop in the Grade 3 Greenwood Cup at Parx Racing last September. Next missed the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes at Santa Anita due to an abscess discovered in a leg the day he was to ship. He came off a seven-month layoff to win the Isaac Murphy Marathon by 11 1/4 lengths on May 1 at Churchill Downs. The 2023 Isaac Murphy, where he finished third, is Next’s lone defeat over the last 22 months. :: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports Naturally, it’s stamina that separates Next from his competitors in this division. With races like the Birdstone at Saratoga in August and Greewood Cup at Parx in September, Next has his schedule basically preordained. “Everybody asks why we don’t go a mile and a quarter or a mile and an eighth,” Cowans said. “He does something real good, why would I want to change? “My thing is why don’t these racing secretaries write a few more [marathon] races? . . . Why don’t they do something different? Why do I got to do something different?” Luan Machado rides Next from post 6. Crupi came to life last fall with victories in the Discovery and Queens County stakes, both 1 1/8 miles races at Aqueduct. After a decent third behind National Treasure and Senor Buscador in the Pegasus World Cup, Crupi went to Dubai where he finished 10th in the World Cup. He came back to the United States to rally from last to win the Grade 2 Suburban on June 8 at Saratoga. “He was one of the few horses that won from off the pace that day; he’s a grinder and kept plugging away, he was able to get up late and keep going,” said Todd Pletcher, trainer of Crupi. “I do think he’s improved as he’s gotten older, which we always hoped for and expected. With the exception of Dubai, which didn’t agree with him, everything else it seems like he’s been pretty consistent this year.” Masqueparade, third in the Suburban, is back in the Brooklyn for trainer Rob Atras. “Next, if he shows up again, we’re all running for second, but we’re right there with Crupi and I think he deserves a shot,” Atras said. Saffie Joseph Jr. is stretching Lure Him In back out in distance following a fourth-place finish in the six-horse Steve Sexton Mile on May 27 at Lone Star Park. Joseph noted that before he had him, Lure Him In finished a well-beaten third in the Tokyo City, a 1 1/2-mile dirt race at Santa Anita. :: Get the Inside Track with the FREE DRF Morning Line Email Newsletter. Subscribe now.  “It kind of seems like he gets going a little late,” Joseph said. “The way he runs, it might be worth a shot. Next looks invincible.” Dai Vernon, second to Next in the Issac Murphy, makes his first start since then for Bill Mott. Drake’s Passage, trained by Christophe Clement, comes in off a four-length victory against New York-breds in the Commentator at 1 1/8 miles. Spencer’s Boy Luna completes the field. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.