Hillwood Stable's Maryland-bred and -based multiple graded stakes winner Post Time, dominant in capturing the one-mile Polynesian Stakes 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 son of Frosted is bound for and will train up to the Dirt Mile Nov. 2 at Del Mar, having emerged from his 11 1/2-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," Russell said.
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 Stakes (G3), which was the last time he had raced over his home track. He then won the Carter Stakes (G2), was second in the Westchester Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack and Metropolitan Handicap (G1), and third in the Whitney Stakes (G1)—his two-turn debut—at Saratoga Race Course.
"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 Oct. 2 over a fast main track at the Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md., going four furlongs in :49 3/5.
"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."
Though not a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race winner, Post Time has sufficient graded stakes points to secure entry to the Dirt Mile should the field oversubscribe., five fewer than Preakness Stakes (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 possible for 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 over-raced 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, 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."
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
