Pickin' Time Picks His Spot In Saturday's Perryville

Saturday’s 13^th running of the $150,000 Perryville for 3-year-olds going 7 furlongs attracted nine runners with one omission to the delight of trainer Kelly Breen.

“It’s a wide-open race and I don’t see a Jackie’s Warrior in there,” said Breen, whose Pickin’ Time ran second in his most recent start behind Jackie’s Warrior in the Gallant Bob (G2) at Parx on Sept. 25.

Jackie’s Warrior looms as the probable favorite for the $2 million Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 6.

A New Jersey-bred son of Stay Thirsty owned by breeder John Bowers Jr. (Roseland Farm Stable), Pickin’ Time is back sprinting after chasing heavyweights such as Hot Rod Charlie and Mandaloun in the Haskell (G1) in July.

“Mr. Bowers ran a horse in the Haskell 21 years ago (Thistyranthasclass, who finished fifth) and didn’t think he would have another one,” Breen said. “He asked me to run, and I couldn’t deny him the opportunity.”

Pickin’ Time won two stakes as a 2-year-old, including the Nashua (G3) going a mile. Following a fourth-place finish in the Mucho Macho Man (L) at Gulfstream on Jan. 2, he received nearly a five-month vacation.

“His first race back (in the Jersey Derby), the race came off the grass and I thought it would be easier on him, but he was never comfortable and then he got thrown to the wolves (in the Haskell),” Breen said. “Since he went back to sprinting he has a win (in a state-bred stakes at Monmouth) and the nice effort to finish second to Jackie’s Warrior.

“I think he can go longer. This is a nice middle-distance race to build his confidence to get him going longer.”

Pickin’ Time is among the five horses Breen has at Keeneland. One of them, Persisto, runs in this afternoon’s third race. Breen also trains Edge Racing’s Yes This Time, a Grade 3 winner pointing to the $150,000 Bryan Station going a mile on the turf on Oct. 30.