Post Time Earns His Spot in Metropolitan Handicap Field

In delivering victory after victory while climbing the class ladder, Post Time  convinced trainer Brittany Russell the time is right for his grade 1 debut June 8 in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.

The 4-year-old Maryland-bred son of record-breaking 2016 Met Mile winner Frosted   swept his three starts as a juvenile by a combined 12 1/2 lengths capped by a victory in the 2022 Maryland Juvenile Stakes. He then won two of three races last year including two more stakes scores, one in open company in the seven-furlong City of Laurel Stakes.

With four starts already under his belt this year for owner Hillwood Stable (Ellen Charles), Post Time has proved up to the challenge of graded stakes as he won the seven-furlong General George Stakes (G3) at Laurel Park before rallying to a narrow victory in the Carter Stakes (G2) April 6 at Aqueduct Racetrack. He’ll enter Saturday’s test off a runner-up finish in the one-mile Westchester Stakes (G3) May 3 at Aqueduct.

While the winning has been there from the start as Post Time has earned trips to the winner’s circle in eight of his 10 efforts and has never finished off the board, Russell said she’s seen more maturity in the strong start to 2024.

“He’s a better-seasoned horse this year. I think he’s more of a man rather than a boy, which is kind of what it felt like last fall,” Russell said. “This is going to be a true class test for him.

“We’ve tried him in some bigger spots and obviously he hasn’t yet run with the likes of the National Treasures and White Abarrios but I feel like when they’re doing good, you’ve got the races under them, and they’ve trained forwardly, it’s the time to try.”

Russell has enjoyed success in Maryland and just captured the short Pimlico Race Course spring meet training title with eight victories. At Saratoga, Russell has won five of 35 starts and captured the 2021 Tale of the Cat Stakes with Wondrwherecraigis . She’s looking for her first Saratoga graded stakes victory.

Post Time is scheduled to start from post 3 and is the 7-2 morning-line third choice in the Met Mile behind Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner White Abarrio  and Preakness Stakes (G1) winner National Treasure .

Post Time, who arrived at Saratoga’s Barn 14 June 5, is capable of some quirkiness but once he’s to the track for racing or training, he focuses on the task.

“This morning (assistant trainer Emma Wolfe) gets a leg up on him and he goes out and he stands up and shows his belly a couple of times,” Russell said. “But then he steps down and he goes on about his business. He’s just a playful type of horse.

“He’s awesome. He’s a quirky horse and has a lot of personality. He’s been like that from the beginning. He has some antics, but he’s super professional. And he’s a very good training horse.”