Brian's Time


Brian's Time 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. 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, so Veitch decided to wheel him back in two weeks into the second jewel of the [United States United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing|Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing|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. 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, Sunny Brian, Tanino Gimlet, Silk Justice, Dantsu Flame, Furioso and Phalaenopsis. 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
FoaledNameSexMajor Wins
1991Brian's RomancSakurambo Kinen
1991Chokai CarolmYushun Himba
1991Narita BriancTriple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing: Satsuki Shō, Tōkyō Yūshun and Kikuka-shō; Arima Kinen, Spring Stakes, Kyodo Tsushin Hai Yonsai Stakes, Hanshin Daishōten
1992Mayano Top GuncKikuka-shō, Arima Kinen, Takarazuka Kinen, Tennō Shō Spring, Hanshin Daishōten
1992M.I.BlanccAntares Stakes, Heian Stakes, Musashino Stakes
1994Erimo DandycNikkei Shinshun Hai, Keihan Hai
1994Meiner MaxcAsahi Hai Sansai Stakes
1994Port Brian'scFukushima Kinen
1994Seiryu OcSapporo Sansai Stakes
1994Silk JusticecArima Kinen
1994Sunny BriancSatsuki Shō, Tōkyō Yūshun
1995Biwa TakehidecRadio Tampa Sho
1995Brilliant RoadcNiigata Daishoten
1995Narita Luna ParkmNakayama Himba Stakes
1995PhalaenopsismOka Sho, Shūka Sho, Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup, Rose Stakes
1996Toho EmperorcTokyo Daishoten, Toki Daishoten, Nagoya Daishoten, Mile Championship Nambu Hai
1997Erimo BriancStayers Stakes
1997Meiner BriancSirius Stakes, Grand Chariot Cup, Gunma Cup
1997Silk Prima DonnamYushun Himba
1997Toho ShidencNakayama Kimpai
1998Big GoldcNakayama Kimpai
1998Dantsu FlamecTakurazuka Kinen, Arlington Cup, Niigata Daishoten
1998Time ParadoxcJapan Cup Dirt, Kawasaki Kinen, Japan Breeding Farms' Cup Classic, Teio Sho, Heian Stakes, Antares Stakes, Breeders Gold Cup, Hakusan Daishoten
1999Bold BriangTokyo Shinbun Hai
1999En DehorscMarch Stakes, Tokai Stakes
1999Erimo MaximgNiigata Jump Stakes
1999No ReasoncSatsuki Sho
1999Tanino GimletcTokyo Yushun
2000Meine NouvellefFlower Cup
2000Run to the FreezecKyodo Tsushin Hai
2000Silky LagoonmOcean Stakes
2001Al DragoncNagoya Daishoten
2001Meine SorceressmAichi Hai
2001SayonarafEmpress Hai
2001Tosen BrightcThoroughbred Challenge Cup, Kurofune Sho, Hyogo Gold Trophy
2002Big PlanetcArlington Cup, Kyoto Kimpai
2002Moere AdmiralcHokkaido Nisai Yushun
2002Nishono Nurse CallfEmpress Hai
2002Tagano GuernicacHeian Stakes
2002Wild WondercAntares Stakes, Procyon Stakes, Negishi Stakes
2003Nike EarthworkcUnicorn Stakes
2003Tagano BastillecFalcon Stakes
2004Dragon FirecSirius Stakes
2004Makoto SparvierocNippon TV Hai, Nagoya Grand Prix, Mercury Cup, March Stakes
2004Meiner HourglasscSirius Stakes
2004FuriosocJapan Dirt Derby, Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun, Teio Sho, Kawasaki Kinen, Kashiwa Kinen, Diolite Kinen, Nippon TV Hai
2004VictorycSatsuki Shō
2005Meiner CharlescYayoi Sho, Keisei Hai
2006A Shin BeatloncSummer Champion
2007Birdie BirdiecUnicorn Stakes, Hyogo Championship
2007Rainbow DahliafQueen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup
2008Laser BulletcTele Tama Hai Oval Sprint, Hyogo Gold Trophy
2010Cafe BrilliantfHanshin Himba Stakes
2013Dantsu PriuscNew Zealand Trophy