Blackout Time, who finished second in the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, is set to make his 3-year-old debut in the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn on March 1, co-owner Lance Gassaway confirmed Saturday morning. The colt has not raced since October 4, when he placed runner-up to Ted Nophy—the eventual 2-year-old champion and promising stallion—in the 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland. Following that, Blackout Time competed in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar on October 31 but was examined by a regulatory veterinarian due to concerns about his soundness.
A son of the well-regarded stallion Not This Time, Blackout Time returned to training at the Fairgrounds on January 23, breezing twice—once on January 30 and again last Thursday—before heading to Oaklawn. Gassaway explained, “We don’t anticipate any issues; we’re right on schedule. He is expected to train here for the fourth time on Wednesday.” Along with prepping the 3-year-old for his season opener, the team is working to remove Blackout Time from the HISA veterinarian list to restore his racing eligibility under HISA regulations.
“Wednesday’s session will be our fourth workout, and after that, we hope to complete two more, bringing the total to six,” Gassaway noted. “He’s doing well—recently breezed five-eighths of a mile, with a half-mile work the previous week—and showed no respiratory issues.”
Before his impressive Breeders’ Futurity run, Blackout Time secured a decisive 9¾-length victory in a mile-long maiden race at Ellis Park on August 2. To date, he has a record of one win and two seconds from three starts, amassing earnings of $210,691. Purchased by McPeak, acting as agent, for $210,000 at Fasig-Tipton’s Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, Blackout Time will be campaigned in partnership with Brookdale Racing and McPeak’s Magdalena Racing.
Lance Gassaway, based in Star City, Arkansas, is notable for breeding and racing Mystic Dan, the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner. The Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn, covering 1 1/16 miles, is the track’s third Kentucky Derby points race, offering 105 points distributed as 50-25-15-10-5 to the top five finishers—critical towards qualifying for the prestigious first leg of the Triple Crown at Churchill Downs on May 2. Blackout Time earned five Kentucky Derby qualifying points with his second-place finish in the Breeders’ Futurity.
This article originally appeared in the News section of Paulick Report on February 7, 2026. Click here to set Paulick Report as your preferred news source.
Fan Take: This update on Blackout Time is an exciting development for horse racing enthusiasts, as his return could shake up the road to the Kentucky Derby. His promising early performances and current training progress suggest he could become a notable contender, adding intrigue and competitive depth to the 3-year-old division this season.
