‘We Were Delighted To Be Second’: Post Time May Target Cigar Mile

11/09/2024 |

Courtesy of the Paulick Report

‘We Were Delighted To Be Second’: Post Time May Target Cigar Mile

The popular Maryland-bred was runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, and may not be done for 2024
Breeders’ Cup
Brittany Russell
Post Time
Cigar Mile

It didn’t take long for Hillwood Stable’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) runner-up Post Time to get back to business upon his return to Maryland.

Laurel Park-based trainer Brittany Russell said the 4-year-old Frosted colt, part of her string at the Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md. that is overseen by assistant and exercise rider Emma Wolfe, arrived Wednesday from Del Mar.

“He got back and he has been raising hell for 24 hours so he had to go gallop [Thursday],” Russell said. “Not that I’ve traveled with loads of good horses, but he travels really well.”

Post Time finished 1 ½ lengths behind upset winner Full Serrano in the Nov. 2 Dirt Mile, his third Grade 1 placing this year to go along with stakes wins in the General George (G3), Polynesian and Jennings at Laurel and Carter (G2) at Aqueduct. He also ran second in the Met Mile (G1) and third in the Whitney (G1), both at Saratoga.

“He’s got a Grade 1 with his name on it somewhere, I just have to figure it out,” Russell said. “The [Dirt Mile] winner ran great. He had a great trip. I’m not saying we didn’t or any excuse like that, but with his running style he’s running late and it’s a short stretch. You feel like maybe if there’s a little more [racetrack] maybe he gets there but, hey, that’s horse racing. We were delighted to be second.”

Never worse than third with nine wins from 14 starts, Maryland’s 2022 champion 2-year-old is under consideration for the Cigar Mile (G2) Dec. 7 at Aqueduct.

“With how he’s doing right now it’s kind of hard to really stop on him. I feel like we’ve taken pretty good care to space his races and things like that. It’s up to him. That’s kind of how we’ve gone with him all year,” Russell said. “We got lucky and he handled everything pretty well and he kind of asked for the next step.

“Emma was training him up there [Thursday] morning and she said he was a wild animal,” she added. “So after a race like that and him traveling back home from California, for him to act like that makes me feel pretty good that we can probably think about the Cigar Mile.”

Post Time has two wins – the Polynesian and Jennings – and three seconds in five tries at one mile and has raced twice at Aqueduct, following his Carter victory with a runner-up finish in the May 3 Westchester (G3).

“[The Cigar Mile] is five weeks from his last one and the way he seemed to have traveled home, we’re going to keep that on our radar and certainly consider it,” Russell said. “And if we have to sit and wait, he’ll get whatever he needs. It’s going to be up to him. We’re just going to see how he trains and go from there.”

Post Time became a fan favorite and social media darling during the Breeders’ Cup for his good looks and personality, which regularly sees him active and playful both before and after his morning exercise.

“He’s just entertaining. He’s pure entertainment, and he knows everybody’s looking at him. He loves that,” Russell said. “Besides his quirks in the morning, it was like pretty stress-free. He’s just good, so it was a little bit less of a worry for me. Once Emma survived getting him to the racetrack every day it was fine.”

Already the richest horse the 35-year-old Russell has trained since going out on her own in 2018, Post Time became her first millionaire following the Dirt Mile. He earned $170,000 for second, pushing his bankroll to $1,167,910.

“How about that,” Russell said. “Now I need to get him to $2 million.”

Aiken Training track Grad POST TIME a thrilling 2nd in the BREEDERS’ CUP DIRT MILE

11/03/2024 |

Selected and started by Cary Frommer
Courtesy of the Paulick Report
Trainer Brittany Russell, second with Post Time – “Huge result. Huge result. What a horse! We’re tickled. That was awesome.

“His running style makes it a little tricky, but Sheldon rode him great and he came with his run and a huge race.

“I’m watching and man, he’s back there. They were running in front, but I’m always a little anxious watching a horse like this run because he had to pick his way through a bit. But, hey, we’re delighted. He ran huge. That was a great race.”

Jockey Sheldon Russell, second with Post Time – “Great effort. A lot of people mentioned to me coming into the race that this track was known for speed and he has to be close. He broke how he always breaks. I left him alone and we got a great trip on the inside. I sort of just followed Flavien [Prat] the whole way down the backside. I don’t know what really happened. I just got a great split up the inside and it all opened up.

“Today I really thought it was going to be his day, and he ran all the way to the line. Maybe the short stretch was a bit of a disadvantage because I feel like he was coming. A great effort by the team. He always shows up and we’re over the moon.”

From Aiken to Del Mar and the Breeders’ Cup!

10/31/2024 |

POST TIME was selected and started by Cary Frommer

Courtesy of the Paulick Report
It is easy to tell what Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) contender Post Time thinks of himself. With a pep in his step and a glide in his stride, there is no denying the dual graded stakes-winning 4-year-old son of Frosted knows his worth.

“He has so much character,” trainer Brittany Russell said. “There’s something special about him, and you can see it. When you’re around him, he has an air about him, and we love it.”

When Hillwood Stable’s Post Time first steps foot on the track, he walks with his ears forward and his head held stoically, sizing up the horses around him and announcing his presence. As he makes his way from the backstretch chute to the main oval, exercise rider Emma Wolfe prepares for the show.

“I think he really enjoys being out there with the action and the people,” Russell said. “People are looking at him right now, and this is his game and his thing. Him and Emma have a really special thing going. She loves him and he knows that.”

The first few minutes are a rocky start for Wolfe, as she holds on resolutely atop a bucking and frolicking Post Time. Feeling good, it takes him almost a full lap of trotting before he is ready to get down to business.

“He bucks and rears and stuff like that, but he doesn’t do it maliciously,” Wolfe said. “He just wants to go train. It’s all he wants to do.

When Post Time’s mind settles on his work, so do the eyes of every track goer. The strapping gray coasts along with powerful strides and perfect rhythm.

“He’s quite strong, and he’s all business,” Wolfe said. “If you let him do his thing in the beginning, then he has a better gallop. But if you don’t let him do that, then he’s just mad the whole time.”

Post Time’s attitude and personality aren’t the only things that make him special. When he steps into the starting gate Saturday, he will be Russell’s first starter at a Breeders’ Cup, a feat she has accomplished in partnership with her husband, Sheldon, Post Time’s regular rider.

Together, Post Time and Sheldon have won six races, topped by the Carter (G2) in April at Aqueduct. Last out, they dominated the Polynesian on Sept. 14 at Laurel Park by 11 ½ lengths.

“Sheldon and I were talking about it and I said, ‘Isn’t it crazy that Post Time is taking both of us to the Breeders’ Cup?’ You sit down and really reflect on it, and it’s special,” Russell said. “A lot of people work really hard in this game for a long time and don’t get these opportunities. We’ve been really blessed. We’re so proud he’s taken us his far.”

Del Mar will be the sixth track Post Time has raced over, boasting wins at three of them and two Grade 1 placings over another this year when second in the Metropolitan Handicap and third in the Whitney at Saratoga.

“He shows up. It doesn’t matter where we run him. He shows up and runs his race,” Russell said. “It’s a matter of he has to bring his best race, and is it going to be good enough to win on Saturday?”

Regardless of the result, Post Time is certainly good enough to have earned an eternal place in the hearts of his trainer and team.

“That air, that confidence he carries, he thinks he’s the best,” Russell said. “He’s such a special individual and he’s nothing like I’ve ever been around. It’s so hard to describe. He’s just so special.”

‘He Thinks He’s The Man’: Post Time Confirmed For Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile

10/04/2024 |

Started and trained at the Aiken Training Track by Cary Frommer

Hillwood Stable’s Maryland-bred and based multiple graded-stakes winner Post Time, dominant in capturing the one-mile Polynesian last month at Laurel Park, will make his next start in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

Trainer Brittany Russell confirmed that the 4-year-old Post Time, by two-time Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) participant and multi-millionaire Grade 1 winner Frosted, is bound for and will train up to the Dirt Mile Nov. 2 at Del Mar, having emerged from his 11 ½-length romp in the Sept. 14 Polynesian in good order.

“We’re heading toward the Dirt Mile. We’re going to take him out there. The Polynesian was the prep,” she said before saddling a fifth straight winner at Laurel with 2-year-old filly first-time starter Gotanothathingcomn ($4.40) in Thursday’s Race 4. She added a second winner, 3-year-old gelding Derbyness ($5.80), also ridden by Jevian Toledo, in Race 8. “We’re all really excited.”

The Polynesian was the sixth stakes win for Post Time, five of them coming at Laurel including his first graded triumph in the Feb. 17 General George (G3), which was the last time he had raced over his home track. He then won the Carter (G2) and was second in the Westchester (G3) at Aqueduct and finished second in the Met Mile (G1) and third in the Whitney (G1) – his two-turn debut – at Saratoga.

“We got him a win. It was great to get him back in the winner’s circle at home,” Russell said. “I think he got enough out of it, which is always a concern when you’re thinking about the next step. There’s still something left in there. From a mental standpoint, I think we did what we wanted to accomplish. He thinks he’s the man. He came out of the race very, very good and that was sort of the goal.”

Post Time returned to the work tab for the first time since the Polynesian Wednesday over a fast main track at the Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md., where Russell’s string is overseen by assistant trainer and exercise rider Emma Wolfe, going four furlongs in 49.60 seconds.

“He’s great. He’s been training pretty aggressively since he ran,” Russell said. “That was a pretty easy race for him so he was back to work quick. I was going to breeze him last week, but we got a lot of rain and I was waiting for a good track. He did it easy, well within himself. It was kind of a great first work back off of the run.”

Post Time has the second-most points on the Dirt Mile points leaderboard with 22, five fewer than Preakness (G1) and Pennsylvania Derby (G1) winner Seize the Grey. National Treasure, Three Technique and Japan-based Crown Pride have all won automatic qualifying races.

Millionaires National Treasure and Skippylongstocking are also among horses pointing to the Dirt Mile. After running second to National Treasure in the Met Mile, Post Time finished ahead of both Skippylongstocking (fifth) and National Treasure (sixth) in the Whitney.

“We’ve been careful in how we’ve raced him. We haven’t overraced him or anything and he seems to be maintaining that level,” Russell said. “I feel like in a sense he needs to take a little bit more of a step up, and I’m hopeful that he can do it on the right day.”

Russell said her husband, champion jockey Sheldon Russell, will retain the call in the Dirt Mile. He has ridden 10 consecutive races on Post Time, who owns nine wins, two seconds, two thirds and $997,910 in purse earnings from 13 career starts.

“My first runner out there, we’re doing it together,” Brittany Russell said. “Even if he wasn’t going to be on him, it’s the team. The fact that he’s ridden him and he’s had so much success on him, it’s great.”

Aiken trained POST TIME airs in the Polynesian Stakes by over 11 lengths

09/15/2024 |

POST TIME was selected and started by Cary Frommer
Courtesy of the TDN
Post Time was head and shoulders above the field for the Polynesian Stakes, and his class sparkled on Saturday. The 4year-old put together a solid NYRA campaign after he was last seen at Laurel winning the GIII General George Stakes in midFebruary. Sent off as the favorite in the GII Carter Stakes, Post Time won by a neck at Aqueduct Apr. 6, then was the runner-up in the GIII Westchester Stakes during the Belmont at the Big A meet May 3. Playing in the big leagues upstate, the grey was the runner-up behind National Treasure (Quality Road) in the GI Met Mile June 8 and finished third to Arthur’s Ride (Tapit) in the GI Whitney Stakes Aug. 3. Slammed at the windows at five cents on the dollar here, the chalk was in no hurry early as a pair zoomed off to set the pace up the backstretch. Post Time steadily gained ground heading into the far turn, opened up the floodgates at the eighth pole and ran up the score from there.
The winner’s dam is responsible for unraced 2-year-old filly Field Song and she was sent to Tapit for next term.

BANNED FOR LIFE: Exciting MSW at Saratoga

08/12/2024 |

Started at the Aiken Training Track by Cary Frommer and sold for $250,000
Courtesy of the TDN
2nd-Saratoga, $100,000, Msw, 8-10, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 1:16.05, ft, 4 lengths.
BANNED FOR LIFE (c, 3, Maximus Mischief–Daddy’s Diva, by Scat Daddy) debuted in third place over the slop at Fair Grounds in mid-February. The bay finished fourth at Keeneland Apr. 6, and then in a trio of attempts under the Twin Spires was the runner-up May 4, fifth June 2 and third June 30. Backed as a 3-1 shot here, the colt tracked just to outside up the backstretch of Hurricane Nelson (Khozan). The 3-year-old tackled his target around the far turn and at the sixteenth pole he passed his rival to win by four lengths.

A half-sister to MGSP Empire of Gold (Goldencents), the winner’s unraced dam is responsible for a 2-year-old filly by Audible, a yearling filly by McKinzie and she foaled a colt by Audible May 5. Daddy’s Diva was bred to Banned for Life’s sire for next term.
Sales History: $25,000 Wlg ’21 KEENOV; $72,000 Ylg ’22 EASOCT; $250,000 2yo ’23 EASMAY. Lifetime Record: 6-1-1-2, $106,625.
O-Spendthrift Farm LLC
B-Respect the Valleys, LLC (KY);
T-Albert M. Stall, Jr.

‘Battle-Tested’ Post Time Takes Another ‘Big Swing’ In Whitney

08/02/2024 |
Courtesy of NYRA
Though Post Time drew the rail, trainer Brittany Russell says the 20-1 chance is in good form ahead of Saturday’s race. He was started at the AIKEN TRAINING TRACK by Cary Frommer.

The burgeoning operation of trainer Brittany Russell has become a force with which to reckon since the native of Peach Bottom, Pennsylvania, went out on her own in 2018.

Making her mark with calculated and mindful horse placement, the 34-year-old won the Maryland training title in 2023—becoming the first woman to do so—and in 2024 has struck at a smart 21 percent with purse earnings good enough to be ranked 19th, nationally. The Maryland-based conditioner will take an admitted “big swing” on Saturday in the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney with 20-1 morning-line chance Post Time.

The Whitney is a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

“We know we’re in a tough race and he’s never been a mile and an eighth, but he seems to show up every time and that gives us a lo of confidence,” Russell said. “He’s become more mature physically and mentally as he’s aged and, while he’s still a bit of a character, he’s a very good horse and seems to always make his run.”

If the Maryland-bred son of 2016 Whitney winner Frosted hopes to emulate his sire, a fellow gray, he will have to do so from post 1, as well as improve upon his 6 1/4-length second to re-opposing National Treasure in the Grade 1 Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap eight weeks ago. Racing two paths off the rail in fifth throughout much of the race, he passed three horses in the stretch and ultimately out-willed Hoist the Gold and Castle Chaos for runner-up honors.

It’s Post Time for Russell in Whitney Stakes

07/28/2024 |

Courtesy of the TDN
Trained at the Aiken Training track – started by Cary Frommer

Post Time | Sarah Andrew

By Tim Wilkin

SARATOGA SPINGS, N.Y. – It’s ‘Post Time’ for the 97th running of the $1-million GI Whitney Stakes.

Well, actually, the race is still a week away, but if you are trainer Brittany Russell, you’re darn right it’s Post Time.

As in Post Time (Frosted), the 4-year-old colt that will make a return trip to Saratoga Race Course. Last month, Post Time, owned by Hillwood Stable, LLC, won the race for second in the GI Metropolitan Handicap. Post Time beat Hoist the Gold (Mineshaft) by a neck.

No one was going to beat National Treasure (Quality Road), who won the Met Mile by 6 1/4 lengths for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.

Assuming National Treasure goes in the Whitney–Baffert said he would make a final decision after his colt works Sunday in California–Russell would welcome the chance for the rematch.

“National Treasure is a very good horse,” Russell said by phone from Maryland. “We are going to have to really put our running shoes on. (National Treasure) will be hard to beat. We will show up and we’ll give it our best.”

Post Time, a Maryland-bred, has eight wins, two seconds and a third in 11 career starts. The Met Mile was his first start in Grade I company. He has a pair of graded stakes wins on his resume in the GII Carter Stakes at Aqueduct and the GIII General George Stakes at Laurel.

Russell knows that when she gives a leg up to her husband/jockey Sheldon Russell, she is going to get the absolute best that Post Time has. He has never disappointed her.

“He is just a good, honest horse,” Brittany Russell said. “He loves his job, he trains, he doesn’t miss a beat. He just shows up to the track and does his work every day. Sometimes we wonder if we are doing enough with him.”

Post Time had his final Whitney work Saturday at the Fair Hill Training Center, going four furlongs in :49 (7/28) with Russell’s assistant Emma Wolfe on board.

“He went very good,” Russell said. “He’s ready to go.”

And he will go to Saratoga on Tuesday. Russel said that Wolfe will accompany Post Time on the trip to the Spa and expects that he will go to the track on Wednesday.

SUMMER WHIRL takes exciting Saratoga MSW

07/28/2024 |

SUMMER WHIRL (Arrogate) has been on the board in her previous two starts and today she made a very dramatic move to break her maiden by a neck. Racing a mile on the Saratoga inner turf, she was stuck on the rail until a dramatic shift to the outside at the top of the stretch gave her running room and she inhaled her competition. NY Bred SUMMER WHIRL was selected by Cary as a yearling at the Fasig Tipton NY Bred Sale. She is trained by Graham Motion for Hillwood Stable LLC.
Breeder: Hidden Lake Farm, LLC & 3C Stables, LLC

Courtesy of the TDN

SUMMER WHIRL (f, 3, Arrogate–Summer Shade, by Stephen Got Even), who debuted at the Belmont Festival at Saratoga with a third at 5 1/2 furlongs and followed that up with a second at the Belmont at the Big A meet July 5 going 8 1/2 panels, improved once again.

Off as the 2-1 favorite, she traveled midpack against the rail, inching gradually closer behind :24.01 and :49.02 fractions. Summer Whirl swung out dramatically off the turn while in search of clear running room and came flying late, just nipping pacesetter Autumn (Constitution) in the last stride to post a neck victory.

The winner is a half to Harmon (Cairo Prince), SP, $240,586; and to an unraced 2-year-old filly named Underbid Brittany (Vekoma), who sold at the FasigTipton Midlantic 2-year-olds in training sale for $40,000 to Anthony Farrior. Summer Whirl | Sarah Andrew Dam Summer Shade, a half to MGSW Hot Summer (Malibu Moon), also has a yearling filly by American Pharoah.

Sales History: $170,000 Ylg ’22 SARAUG; $250,000 2yo ’23 OBSMAR; $225,000 2yo ’23 FTJUNE. Lifetime Record: 3-1-1-1, $74,700.  TV. O-Hillwood Stable LLC; B-Hidden Lake Farm, LLC & 3C Stables, LLC (NY); T-H. Graham Motion.