Barn Tour: Breen on Derby hopes In Due Time, Courvoisier, more

The highs and lows of getting a horse to the Kentucky Derby were on display for trainer Kelly Breen last week.

On Friday, Edge Racing's In Due Time stamped himself as a Derby prospect for Breen when rolling to a 5 3/4-length allowance win going a one-turn mile at Gulfstream Park. After the win, more news was made when a series of Kentucky Derby future wagers were placed on the colt at Caesars Sportsbook at William Hill Nevada. After opening at 250-1, In Due Time’s Kentucky Derby odds were slashed to 20-1.

Then on Saturday, Breen looked to gain additional Derby points in the Whithers (G3) for Courvoisier, who tallied 10 when winning the Jerome on New Year's Day. The son of Tapit pressed the pace set by winner Early Voting for six furlongs in the Withers before fading to seventh, some 15 lengths adrift of gate-to-wire winner.

“I didn’t expect him to get beat that far,” Breen told Horse Racing Nation. “Nobody expects to get beat that far.”

Breen, who won the 2011 Belmont Stakes with Ruler On Ice, has had three previous starters in the Kentucky Derby. In 2009, he finished ninth with West Side Bernie and 16th with Atomic Rain. In 2011, Pants on Fire was ninth in the Kentucky Derby. 

On Wednesday, Breen shared what the latest on Courvoisier, In Due Time and more of his top talent in this latest HRN Barn Tour. 

In Due Time. After graduating on debut last July at Monmouth Park, he didn’t resurface until Jan. 8 when checking in third in an entry-level allowance going six furlongs at Gulfstream.

Making his second start off the layoff Saturday, In Due Time and Paco Lopez had only one horse beat after the opening quarter mile. The pair then quickly made up ground from there, surged to the lead at the top of the stretch to come home the easiest of winners. The final time on a fast track was a solid 1:35.97.

With that victory, In Due Time was listed as an individual betting interest in this weekend’s Kentucky Derby future wager. He was 30-1 on the morning line.

“We always thought he was a nice horse and getting that race (in January) under his belt, while it might not have been his best effort, it seemed just right for having him ready for his second start back,” Breen said. “With the added distance and some pace in the race, he ran very professionally.”

Breen added he was unaware of who placed the Derby future bets on In Due Time in Nevada.

“Nobody has come to me and said they made a decent size bet on him. But he’s done everything right and the sky is the limit,” he said.

In Due Time is by Not This Time out of the unraced Curlin mare Sweet Sweet Annie. He was a $90,000 purchase last year at the OBS April 2-year-olds in training sale.

Breen said it remains to be determined where In Due Time resurfaces next, but it likely will be a points-paying Kentucky Derby prep. The next stop at Gulfstream Park is the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) on March 5.

“We don’t exactly know where we’re pointing him towards just yet,” Breen said. “We’re not even certain if it’s going to be definitely in Florida. Everything is open for this horse But I’ll talk to the owners. I can only assume it will be a point race.”

Courvoisier. After earning 10 Derby points when winning the 1 1/8-mile Jerome on New Year’s Day, he was sent off the 7-1 fifth choice in an 11-horse field in the Withers, also at nine furlongs. Under new rider Ruben Silvera, Courvoisier was a length back of front-running Early Voting after three-quarters of a mile before tiring.

Breen was disappointed with the effort but said Courvoisier came out of the race well.

“He’s good,” Breen said. “I was just surprised he didn’t hang in there a little further. It’s history now. We’re going to try and regroup, but I’m not quite sure what we’re going to do with him.”

If he were to stay on New York's road to the Kentucky Derby, the next stop is the Gotham (G3) going a flat mile on March 5. 

Pickin’ Time. Winner of the 2020 Nashua (G3) and a multiple stakes winner last year, he is currently on hiatus at a farm in Ocala, Fla. The son of Stay Thirsty has been off since winning the City of Laurel Stakes at Laurel Park on Nov. 27.

“We just gave him a little break,” Breen said. “He actually started training the first of February. I’m assuming he’ll be back with me at Palm Meadows around March 1.

In addition to the City of Laurel Stakes, Pickin’ Time last year won the New Jersey Breeders Handicap, was second in the Gallant Bob (G2) at Parx and fourth in the Haskell (G1).

Yes This Time. Like In Due Time, this is another son of Not This Time owned by Edge Racing. Breen said Yes This Time, a multiple stakes winner on turf last year including the Kent Stakes (G3), is also in the midst of a winter break in Ocala. He has been off since finishing second in the Dec. 26 Tropical Park Derby.

“We just wanted to kick him out and let him relax,” Breen said. “He’ll probably have a couple weeks of training in Ocala and then come back to me (in mid-March).”

Last year as a 3-year-old, Yes This Time also won the English Channel Stakes at Gulfstream Park and hit the board in both the Bryan Station Stakes at Keeneland the Dueling Grounds Derby at Kentucky Downs.

Daufuskie Island. The 3-year-old New York-bred by Goldencents was a debut winner at Saratoga in August and went on to finish in the top three in four straight stakes for state-breds, including the Rego Park most recently on Jan. 9.

Daufuskie Island is entered for class relief Friday in the seventh race at Aqueduct, an allowance/optional claiming event for open company.

“I was trying to check off certain boxes, such as what might be his best distance,” Breen said of entering for Friday. “Right now I think it’s six furlongs. This race is six furlongs. Straight 3-year-olds? Check. And so all of those things checked off.”

Daufuskie Island has banked $118,569 in six starts for owner-breeder Robert G. Hahn.