Wynn Time returns from layoff to score in Thanksgiving Handicap

Wynn Time missed a work when he got a minor shipping fever after arriving in New Orleans from Chicago in early November. But coming back from a seven-month break he didn’t miss a beat delivering a hot performance Thursday in the $75,000 Thanksgiving Handicap at Fair Grounds.

Wynn Time sat fourth and fifth behind Switzerland’s strong pace down the backstretch and around the far turn, made his move after corning for home, headed the leader past the furlong grounds, and went on to win by one length over Proforma.

Switzerland, who set splits of 21.69 and 44.65 seconds, held on for third, three-quarters of a length behind Proforma. C Z Rocket, the 17-10 favorite, broke slowly but the poor start could only account for a small part of a flat sixth-place finish.

There was nothing flat about Wynn Time, who ran six furlongs in 1:09.68. Those who believed he’d be ready for his first race after what was a designed break were rewarded with $8.40 to win.

Jockey Marcelino Pedroza had faith. “I wasn’t worried about the layoff,” he said. “He has a good trainer.”

Indeed, Hugh Robertson, a man of few words in post-race interviews, has become at least a minor master at the craft. Robertson trained Three Hour Nap, the sire of Illinois-bred Wynn Time, and has developed Wynn Time into one of the more capable sprinters in the Midwest – if not beyond. Four-year-old Wynn Time, bred and owned by John Mentz, debuted in August of his 3-year-old season with an Arlington win, ran through four different allowance conditions in his next five starts, and finished second, beaten just a neck, by the top-class sprinter Whitmore while making his stakes debut in the Hot Springs last March 10 at Oaklawn.

Wynn Time finished third by three-quarters of a length in the Count Fleet in April at Oaklawn after which Robertson advised Mentz to give the gelding a break and wait for the next fall, winter, and spring. That time is now, and Wynn Time looks ready. His next start could come, Robertson said, in the Duncan Kenner Stakes at Fair Grounds. Then it will be back on to Oaklawn, perhaps to even better things in 2019.