Brian's Time (May 28, 1985 - April 4, 2013) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He was sired by Roberto by breeder Joan Phillips. Brian's Time was a grade one stakes-winning millionaire who is probably most remembered for his win in the Florida Derby and a solid runner-up finish to Dual Classic winner Risen Star in the 1988 Preakness Stakes.Pedigee Online, Thoroughbred Database website; He later became a very successful breeding stallion in Japan.

Early career

Brian's Time was a late bloomer and raced only twice as a two-year-old, breaking his maiden in his second attempt. The Roberto colt placed second at Gulfstream Park in a very strong field of sophomores in an allowance race in the winter of his three-year-old season, so his trainer, John M. Veitch, gave him a shot in the grade two Fountain of Youth Stakes. In that race, he faced stakes winners and colts that had won three to five previous starts. He finished fourth, but came back to race in a grade one Florida Derby against ten other three-year-old colts. He won against stiff competition, including Forty Niner and Notebook. Three weeks after the Florida Derby, Brian's Time placed third in the Jim Beam Stakes at Turfway Park in Florence, Kentucky.

His trainer and his owner, Joan Phillips, were encouraged by his Florida Derby finish and decided to enter him in the 114th Kentucky Derby in 1988. In that race, Brian's Time broke poorly and was badly outrun going into the first turn, being bumped several times in close quarters. He was dead last in the field of 17 and was forced widest of seven around the first turn. Coming out of the far turn at Churchill Downs, Brian's Time closed from seventeenth to sixth. Filly Winning Colors won that day.

Preakness Stakes

John Veitch could not dismiss his colt and his ability because of the way that he closed strongly at the end of the Derby. He also had three very good excuses as to why he got behind so early (the poor break, being bumped, and going very wide around the turn), so Veitch decided to wheel him back in two weeks into the second jewel of the Triple Crown. The three top finishers of the Derby took most of the public support in the grade one Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. Brian's Time was a lukewarm 7-1 at post time. Eight colts and the filly broke without any problems. The top two from the Derby, Forty Niner and Winning Colors, shot out to the lead.

Brian's Time sat back in seventh but was much closer than he had been in any other of his prior races. Throughout the backstretch and around the far turn, Forty Niner and Winning Colors remained in front. At the top of the stretch, a menacing Risen Star squeezed by on the rail and turned the Preakness into what looked like a romp. Risen Star finished three lengths in front of Winning Colors and 23 lengths in front of Forty Niner. Under Angel Cordero, Brian's Time closed from seventh to second, making up nine lengths in the last furlong as he passed every other horse except dual classic winner Risen Star, who won by a length. Derby winner Winning Colors held on for third, Private Terms was fourth and Forty Niner faded to seventh in the field of nine.

Later career

Later that summer, Brian's Time placed third in the Belmont Stakes, won the grade two Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga Race Course and finished third in the grade one Travers Stakes, also at Saratoga. Late in the year, he won the grade three Pegasus Handicap run in October at Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

At age four, Brian's Time raced five times and managed three third-place finishes in the grade two Nassau County Handicap at seven furlongs at Belmont Park, the grade two Bernard Baruch Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on the turf at Saratoga Race Course, and the grade one Ben Ali Handicap at Keeneland.

Retirement

Brian's Time was retired after the 1989 racing season and was sold to a breeding syndicate in Japan. He was regularly one of the leading sires in that country.Pedigee Online, Thoroughbred Database website; His offspring included a triple crown winner Narita Brian and also Mayano Top Gun, both of whom were voted Japanese Horse of the Year back to back in 1994 and 1995, as well as Time Paradox (Japan Cup Dirt), Sunny Brian (Japanese Derby), Tanino Gimlet (Japanese Derby), Silk Justice (Arima Kinen), Dantsu Flame (Takarazuka Kinen), Furioso (Japan Dirt Derby), No Reason (Satsuki Shō) and Phalaenopsis (Queen Elizabeth II Cup). On April 4, 2013, Brian's Time sustained a fractured femur in a paddock accident and was euthanized, he was 28.

Major winners c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding

+ Major winners Foaled Name Sex Major Wins 1991 Brian's Roman c Sakurambo Kinen 1991 Chokai Carol m Yushun Himba 1991 Narita Brian c Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing: Satsuki Shō, Tōkyō Yūshun and Kikuka-shō; Arima Kinen, Spring Stakes, Kyodo Tsushin Hai Yonsai Stakes, Hanshin Daishōten 1992 Mayano Top Gun c Kikuka-shō, Arima Kinen, Takarazuka Kinen, Tennō Shō Spring, Hanshin Daishōten 1992 M.I.Blanc c Antares Stakes, Heian Stakes, Musashino Stakes1994Erimo DandycNikkei Shinshun Hai, Keihan Hai 1994 Meiner Max c Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes 1994 Port Brian's c Fukushima Kinen 1994 Seiryu O c Sapporo Sansai Stakes 1994 Silk Justice c Arima Kinen 1994 Sunny Brian c Satsuki Shō, Tōkyō Yūshun 1995 Biwa Takehide c Radio Tampa Sho 1995 Brilliant Road c Niigata Daishoten 1995 Narita Luna Park m Nakayama Himba Stakes 1995 Phalaenopsis m Oka Sho, Shūka Sho, Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup, Rose Stakes 1996 Toho Emperor c Tokyo Daishoten, Toki Daishoten, Nagoya Daishoten, Mile Championship Nambu Hai1997Erimo BriancStayers Stakes1997Meiner BriancSirius Stakes, Grand Chariot Cup, Gunma Cup 1997 Silk Prima Donna m Yushun Himba 1997 Toho Shiden c Nakayama Kimpai 1998 Big Gold c Nakayama Kimpai 1998 Dantsu Flame c Takurazuka Kinen, Arlington Cup, Niigata Daishoten 1998 Time Paradox c Japan Cup Dirt, Kawasaki Kinen, Japan Breeding Farms' Cup Classic, Teio Sho, Heian Stakes, Antares Stakes, Breeders Gold Cup, Hakusan Daishoten 1999 Bold Brian g Tokyo Shinbun Hai1999En DehorscMarch Stakes, Tokai Stakes1999Erimo MaximgNiigata Jump Stakes 1999 No Reason c Satsuki Sho 1999 Tanino Gimlet c Tokyo Yushun2000Meine NouvellefFlower Cup 2000 Run to the Freeze c Kyodo Tsushin Hai 2000 Silky Lagoon m Ocean Stakes2001Al DragoncNagoya Daishoten 2001 Meine Sorceress m Aichi Hai2001SayonarafEmpress Hai2001Tosen BrightcThoroughbred Challenge Cup, Kurofune Sho, Hyogo Gold Trophy 2002 Big Planet c Arlington Cup, Kyoto Kimpai2002Moere AdmiralcHokkaido Nisai Yushun2002Nishono Nurse CallfEmpress Hai2002Tagano GuernicacHeian Stakes2002Wild WondercAntares Stakes, Procyon Stakes, Negishi Stakes2003Nike EarthworkcUnicorn Stakes2003Tagano BastillecFalcon Stakes2004Dragon FirecSirius Stakes2004Makoto SparvierocNippon TV Hai, Nagoya Grand Prix, Mercury Cup, March Stakes2004Meiner HourglasscSirius Stakes 2004 Furioso c Japan Dirt Derby, Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun, Teio Sho, Kawasaki Kinen, Kashiwa Kinen, Diolite Kinen, Nippon TV Hai2004VictorycSatsuki Shō2005Meiner CharlescYayoi Sho, Keisei Hai2006A Shin BeatloncSummer Champion2007Birdie BirdiecUnicorn Stakes, Hyogo Championship2007Rainbow DahliafQueen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup2008Laser BulletcTele Tama Hai Oval Sprint, Hyogo Gold Trophy2010Cafe BrilliantfHanshin Himba Stakes2013Dantsu PriuscNew Zealand Trophy

Pedigree

See also List of racehorses

References