Brian’s Time, Grade 1 winner and leading Japanese sire, euthanized

Multiple Grade 1 winner and prominent Japanese sire Brian's Time was euthanized April 4 after fracturing his leg in a paddock accident at Arrow Stud on the island of Hokkaido, Japan. The Roberto horse, who along with his fellow U.S.-bred contemporary Sunday Silence exerted a major influence on the development of the Japanese bloodstock industry, was 28.

Out of the Graustark mare Kelley's Day, Kentucky-bred Brian’s Time was owned and bred by James and Jody Phillips and raised at Jody’s father John Galbraith’s Darby Dan Farm. On the racetrack, Brian's Time captured the Grade 1 Florida Derby in 1988 prior to finishing sixth in the Kentucky Derby for trainer John Veitch. He then went on to finish second to Risen Star in the Preakness Stakes and third in the Belmont Stakes. Later in the season, Brian's Time added another Grade 1 score in the Pegasus Handicap; he also won the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes and finished third in the Travers Stakes.

Grade 1 placed as a 4-year-old, Brian's Time retired with five wins from 21 starts and a career bankroll of $1,001,269.

Brian's Time entered stud in 1990 at Hayata Farm in Hokkaido before moving to Arrow Stud in 2002. He was among the leading sires in Japan on 12 occasions, including 11 consecutive years from 1994 to 2004. Through April 3, he sired 883 winners from 21 crops for total progeny earnings of $353,823,790. Fueled by Japan’s robust purses and a host of top-quality runners—including 43 graded or group stakes winners—his progeny average earnings are $280,146.

The top runners by Brian's Time include Narita Brian, who was named Japan's Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old in 1994, when he swept the Triple Crown. Also the country's champion 2-year-old the prior year, he captured five Group 1 races and concluded his career with $9,296,552 in earnings.

Brian's Time sired another Japanese Horse of the Year in Mayano Top Gun, who earned the honor in 1995; a Group 1 winner in three consecutive seasons, he earned $7,463,557.

The stallion also produced champion 3-year-old colt and Japanese Derby and Two Thousand Guineas winner Sunny Brian; champion 3-year-old filly Phalaenopsis; and champion juvenile male Meiner Max.

Brian's Time is the sire of Japanese Derby winner Tanino Gimlet, Japanese Oaks winners Silk Prima Donna and Chokai Carol, Japanese Two Thousand Guineas winners Victory and No Reason, and Group 1 winners Furioso, Time Paradox, Dantsu Flame, Silk Justice, Rainbow Dahlia, and Toho Emperor.