Post Time taking the Carter over Castle Chaos by a neck April 6 at Aqueduct. (Susie Raisher)
David Joseph/Maryland Jockey Club
LAUREL, Md. – Hillwood Stable’s multiple graded-stakes winning 4-year-old Post Time, trained by Laurel Park-based Brittany Russell, breezed Saturday morning ahead of his next scheduled start in the $1 million Metropolitan Handicap (G1) June 8 at Saratoga Race Course.
“We’re going for it,” Russell said. “Why not? The horse is doing nothing wrong. He’s training great. Everything about him is just good right now. It’s a big deal. It’s a big race and you have a horse good enough to consider it and a horse that’s doing fantastic. I think we’d be silly not to try now.”
Under exercise rider and assistant trainer Emma Wolfe, Post Time went five furlongs at the Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md. in his third work since having a four-race win streak snapped when second in the one-mile Westchester (G3) May 3 at Aqueduct.
“He worked great,” Russell said. “He went in a minute and a piece. I just wanted something easy and that’s steady for him. He was just cruising. I just wanted to see that he worked well. He handled himself well, galloped out good and he pulled up bouncing. He’s ready.”
Post Time closed to be beaten less than a length as the favorite in the Westchester, his third straight graded-stakes attempt following victories in the Feb. 17 General George (G3) at Laurel and April 6 Carter (G2) at Aqueduct, both sprinting seven furlongs. Prior to that he won Laurel’s Jan. 28 Jennings going one mile against fellow Maryland-bred/sired horses and the Nov. 25 City of Laurel, a seven-furlong sprint.
Overall Post Time, purchased as a yearling for $85,000, has eight wins, one second and one third in 10 starts with $365,000 in purse earnings. He went undefeated in three starts at 2 capped by the Maryland Juvenile and was voted Maryland’s champion 2-year-old male of 2022.
Among the horses Post Time is expected to face in the Met Mile are 2023 Preakness (G1) and Jan. 27 Pegasus World Cup (G1) winner National Treasure; 2022 Florida Derby (G1) winner White Abarrio, a finalist for 2023 Horse of the Year following wins in the Whitney (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1); and 2022 Champagne (G1) winner Blazing Sevens, runner-up to National Treasure in the Preakness.
In its history, which dates back to the inaugural 1891 running, no female trainer has ever won the Met Mile.
“It’s going to be interesting, right?” Russell said. “It’s not your normal one-turn mile. You’re coming out of the chute there and, look, anything can happen. You’re going to need a good post position; you’re going to need a good trip. Let’s go for it.”
Russell also entered Joel Politi’s Biscuitwiththeboss in the 5 ½-furlong Astoria for 2-year-old fillies June 6 at Saratoga. The Maryland homebred daughter of Holy Boss won her only prior start, a maiden special weight sprinting 4 ½ furlongs by a neck May 4 at Laurel.
