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Brian's Time (USA)

May 28, 1985 – April 4, 2013

Roberto (USA) x Kelley's Day (USA), by Graustark (USA)

Family 4-r

A brother in blood to 1988 American champion turf male Sunshine Forever (also a Darby Dan Farm product), Brian's Time was smaller and less prepossessing but could run nonetheless. Like Sunshine Forever, he had much the best season of his career at age 3 and lost form afterward. Unlike Sunshine Forever, however, he showed his best form on dirt, winning two Grade 1 races on that surface and placing in two of the three American Triple Crown races. As he and Sunshine Forever were slated to enter stud at the same time and Brian's Time seemed to be the less attractive stud prospect, he was sold to Japanese interests, He turned out a much better stallion than Sunshine Forever, ranking numerous times among the leading Japanese sires.


Race record

21 starts, 5 wins, 2 seconds, 6 thirds, US$1,001,269

1988:
  • Won Florida Derby (USA-G1, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
  • Won Pegasus Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, The Meadowlands)
  • Won Jim Dandy Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Saratoga)
  • 2nd Preakness Stakes (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
  • 3rd Travers Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
  • 3rd Belmont Stakes (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
  • 3rd Jim Beam Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Turfway Park)

1989:
  • 3rd Bernard Baruch Handicap (USA-G1, 9FT, Saratoga)
  • 3rd Nassau County Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Belmont)
  • 3rd Ben Ali Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Keeneland)


Assessments

Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1988, 5 pounds below champion Risen Star.


As an individual

A small dark bay or brown horse who stood just over 15 hands and weighed about 950 pounds as a 3-year-old, Brian's Time was rather stocky and low-slung for his height. (His conformation reflected that of his dam Kelley's Day, whom Eclipse Award-winning equine photographer Barbara Livingston described as "a thick, low-headed, shorter mare.") While he had a good shoulder, his right foreleg rotated out at the knee and he was also offset in both knees. He typically did his best running from off the pace and was game and honest as a racehorse.


As a stallion

Although he had the misfortune to stand during Sunday Silence's record 13-year reign at the top of the Japanese sire charts and so never earned a sire title, Brian's Time was runner-up on the Japanese general sire list in 1995-1997, 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2005 and was among the top five Japanese sires in 1994, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008. According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Brian's Time sired 992 winners (64.8%) and 62 stakes winners (4.0%) from 1532 named foals. Brian's Time was also second on the Japanese broodmare sire list in 2012-2014; third in 2010 and 2011; fourth in 2008, 2009 and 2015; seventh in 2007 and eighth in 2005.



Notable progeny

Chokai Carol (JPN), Dantsu Flame (JPN), Furioso (JPN), Mayano Top Gun (JPN), Meiner Max (JPN), Narita Brian (JPN), No Reason (JPN), Phalaenopsis (JPN), Rainbow Dahlia (JPN), Silk Justice (JPN), Silk Prima Donna (JPN), Sunny Brian (JPN), Tanino Gimlet (JPN), Time Paradox (JPN), Toho Emperor (JPN), Victory (JPN)



Connections

Foaled in Kentucky, Brian's Time was bred by James and Joan Phillips, the son-and-law and daughter of Darby Dan Farm founder John Galbreath, and raced in Mrs. Phillips' colors. He was trained by John M. Veitch. Following his racing career, Brian's Time was exported to Japan, where he entered stud at Hayata Farm in 1990. He moved to Arrow Stud in 2002. He was humanely destroyed in April 2013 after breaking a leg in a paddock accident.


Pedigree notes

Brian's Time is inbred 5x5 to four-time American champion sire and 12-time American champion broodmare sire Sir Gallahad III. He is a full brother to Courtney's Day, second dam of Japanese Group 3 winner Courir Passion, and a half brother to listed stakes winner Ellie's Moment (by Kris S.), dam of 2016 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Presented by Lane's End (USA-G1) winner Time and Motion (by Tapit) and listed stakes winner Awesome Bet (by Awesome Again). Brian's Time is also a half brother to Grade 3-placed Floramera (by Seattle Slew), second dam of 2009 Premio Mil Guineas (CHI-G1) winner Bonny and Clyde, 2010 Premio Mil Guineas (CHI-G1) winner Ocean Quest, and Japanese Group 3 winner Hiraboku King.

Brian's Time is out of Grade 2-placed Kelley's Day, a full sister to Grade 3 winner Java Moon (second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Memories of Silver and third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Winter Memories), stakes winner Sylvan Place, and stakes-placed Outward Sunshine, dam of 1988 American champion grass male Sunshine Forever (by Roberto), second dam of Grade 3 winner Aavelord, and third dam of 2014 Travers Stakes (USA-G1) winner V. E. Day and Grade/Group 3 winners Hotstufanthensome, Silver Charades, Xtra Luke, Harry Potter, and Hunky. Kelley's Day is also a full sister to Grade 1-placed Autumn Glory, dam of French Group 3 winners Glorify (by Nijinsky II) and Doree (by Stop the Music) and second dam of European and American champion Ryafan, and to stakes producer Golden Lamb. In addition, Kelley's Day is a half sister to 1969 Dwyer Handicap winner Gleaming Sunshine (by Never Bend), to stakes-placed stakes producer Meadow Stream (by Native Dancer), and to On the Trail (by Olympia), dam of 1982 Top Flight Handicap (USA-G1) winner Andover Way (by His Majesty; dam of multiple Grade 2 winner and important sire Dynaformer, by Roberto), Grade 2 winner and useful sire Darby Creek Road (by Roberto), and stakes winner Regal Road (by Graustark). Regal Road, in turn, is the dam of stakes winners Rampart Road (by Dixieland Band) and Fappiano Road (by Fappiano) and is the third dam of 2001 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) winner Monarchos, multiple Argentine Group 1 winner New Real Deal, 2001 Grande Prêmio Linneo de Paula Machado (BRZ-G1) winner Energia Davos, and Grade 2 winner Two Trail Sioux.

Kelley's Day is out of Darby Dan foundation mare Golden Trail (by Hasty Road—Sunny Vale, by Eight Thirty), a half sister to multiple Canadian stakes winner Grand Canyon (by Rico Monte) and stakes winner Valley (by Ardan). Golden Trail is also a half sister to Secret Valley (by Priam II), dam of Grade 2 winner Triumphant (by Warfare) and stakes winner Make It Easy (by Reneged), second dam of 1990 Super Derby (USA-G1) winner Home At Last and Grade 3 winner Niner's Home, and third dam of Grade 3 winner Spring Beauty (by Full Pocket). Another half sister to Golden Trail, Fun 'n Sun (by Porterhouse) is the dam of 1985 Derby Mexicano (MEX-G1) winner Shining Sun (by Advocator) and the second dam of multiple Mexican Group 3 winner Nacionalista. A third of Golden Trail's half sisters, Dusky Duchess (by Warfare), is the dam of stakes winner Dusky Duke (by Indian Emerald).


Fun facts
  • Brian's Time was named for John Galbreath's great-grandson Brian Albrecht, who happened to be the same age as the horse.
​


Last updated: December 3, 2020
© 2014-2021 by Avalyn Hunter. All rights reserved. Contributors' materials remain the property of the copyright owners and are used by permission.

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