Pickin' Time can complete sweep for Roseland Farm, Breen in Sapling

Pickin’ Time will attempt to follow in the hoofsteps of big brother Royal Urn on Sunday, when he seeks a Monmouth Park stakes win in the $100,000 Sapling.

Royal Urn, who is out of the mare Born to Royalty, won the New Jersey Breeders’ Handicap last Sunday. He now passes the baton to half-brother Pickin’ Time.

The Sapling, which is for 2-year-olds at a mile, drew a field of six. The group includes Waist Deep, who was a sharp maiden special weight winner at Delaware Park, and Tapwood, a maiden by Tapit out of the multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Better Lucky.

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Pickin’ Time is stretching out for the first time in his career, and there are reasons to believe the Stay Thirsty colt will make good use of the added ground. He goes for the same team as Royal Urn – owner Roseland Farm Stable and trainer Kelly Breen.

“Pickin’ Time, he’s a big, long-legged horse,” Breen said. “It surprised yet pleased me when he ran so well going short. He looks of a horse that wants more ground – a very leggy, long-striding horse.”

Pickin’ Time won his career debut in a maiden special weight at 4 1/2 furlongs July 4 at Monmouth. He’s made one start since, finishing eighth in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special on Aug. 7.

“The race at Saratoga, he didn’t break,” Breen said. “He did make a little bit of a middle move, then flattened out. The middle move is what kind of had me thinking more distance. I think his race to the eye was better than what it looks like on paper.”

Pickin’ Time will break from post 3 under Joe Bravo, who last Sunday was aboard Royal Urn. Royal Urn has now won two stakes at the meet at Monmouth.

Plans for Royal Urn are to be determined, said Breen.

“We’d like to get another race here in New Jersey because he is a Jersey-bred,” Breen said. “That would be nice. But I don’t have a specific race for him at this time.”

Pickin’ Time, who also was bred in New Jersey, will be first Lasix on Sunday.

Waist Deep comes off a fourth-place finish in the $100,000 Juvenile at Ellis Park on Aug. 3. Before that start, he was an eight-length maiden special weight winner July 22.

Tapwood is moving to two turns and gets good pedigree support for the additional ground. He ran second in his career debut, which came in a maiden special weight over 5 1/2 furlongs Aug. 23 at Monmouth.