In Due Time Rolls in Gulfstream Park Allowance

In a race widely regarded as the 'Battle of the Pletchers' between flashy debut winners American Icon  and Iron Works , it was Edge Racing's In Due Time  who stole the show in the ninth race Feb. 4 at Gulfstream Park.

The 3-year-old son of Not This Time   was disregarded at 10-1 on the board as a field of eight sophomores lined up for the one-mile $61,000 allowance optional claiming contest. As the gates opened, American Icon and Luis Saez sprinted for the lead, closely followed by Skippylongstocking  to his outside and In Due Time, who had tucked into a comfortable stalking position along the inside fence. Under pressure, American Icon sizzled through a :23.27 first quarter and :45.78 half-mile. Jockey Paco Lopez angled In Due Time out three-wide around the bend and the chestnut colt swiftly surged by his rivals at the top of the lane, continuing to widen his advantage with every stride to the wire.

American Icon battled on for second 5 3/4 lengths behind the winner and 1 1/2 lengths better than his stablemate Iron Works in third, both trained by Todd Pletcher.

In Due Time ($23), trained by Kelly Breen, ran the mile in 1:35.97 on a fast main track.

The Kentucky Derby (G1) trail now beckons for In Due Time.

"We couldn't have asked for it to set up better; Paco (Lopez) rode a good race and we have a nice horse," Breen said after the race. "I don’t know if he's a (March 5, Fasig-Tipton) Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), (April 2, Curlin) Florida Derby (G1) (horse), or what we are going to do with him. All options are open."

Bred in Kentucky by Gary and Mary West Stables and out of the unraced Curlin   mare Sweet Sweet Annie, In Due Time had graduated first time out as a 2-year-old last summer at Monmouth Park. He then didn't start again until finishing third in a Jan. 8 allowance optional claimer at Gulfstream going six furlongs.

“Our game plan after Monmouth Park was to give him some time. He had a very tough race in his first race. And with time, if he were to be this good, we talked about being on the Derby trail,” said Breen. “But in his first race back he didn’t win, but he needed the race. We’ll see how he comes out of this race, but it was very professional. He did everything right.”

In Due Time was purchased by Edge Racing as a 2-year-old at the 2021 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training for $95,000 from the de Meric Sales consignment.

Video: Race 9 (AOC) at GP on 2/4/22