Zipse: Retiring Post Time leads the age brigade on Saturday

Forget the youth, at my rapidly advancing age I can’t help but to root for the old guys. In stakes races in Arkansas, Florida and Maryland on Saturday, age was served with victories by Post Time, Skippylongstocking, Rattle N Roll, and Wolfie’s Dynaghost.

At the ripe old age of 7, Wolfie’s Dynaghost is in career-best form. He proved that age is but a number by setting a course record while scoring a convincing win in the Fort Lauderdale Stakes (G3) over the Gulfstream Park turf course.

Taking a page from his millionaire half-brother Sadler’s Joy, who continued to race effectively at the age of 8, Wolfie’s Dynaghost is showing no signs of slowing down while closing out his sixth season on the track.

Moved to the barn of Brian Lynch earlier this fall, Wolfie's Dynaghost went right to the lead in the Fort Lauderdale as expected and always looked like a winner. It was his second graded-stakes victory in a row and third overall.

Cugino, who is three years younger than the winner, made a strong move at the race favorite, but the son of Ghostzapper and Dynaire had plenty left to win by three-quarters of a length in a final time of 1:43.42 for the nine furlongs.

The sharp score for Wolfie's Dynaghost will serve as a prep for the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) in five weeks.

One race earlier on the card at Gulfstream Park, Skippylongstocking had to both bounce back and dig deep Saturday, and he did each with a game win in the Harlan’s Holiday Stakes (G3).

After disappointing finishes in the Whitney Stakes (G1) and Charles Town Classic (G2) for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. in his last two starts, it was fair to wonder whether the 6-year-old still had it.

Skippylongstocking answered the question with a determined victory by a head under rider Tyler Gaffalione. The win came over the talented youngster Poster, three years his junior, in the prep for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup.

In winning the Harlan’s Holiday (G3) for the second time, the veteran inched closer to the $4 million mark in career earnings and set himself up for another shot in the Pegasus. In three previous attempts, his third-place finish earlier this year was his best effort.

Saturday’s victory was his 12h overall in 35 career starts, and if you are keeping track at home, that’s 10 graded stakes overall for the son of Exaggerator. 

In Arkansas, Rattle N Roll found the winner’s circle for the first time since a win in Saudi Arabia in January. The veteran stretch runner came from last to easily win the Tinsel Stakes at Oaklawn Park by two lengths in a final time of 1:49.76 for the nine furlongs.

A 6-year-old son of Connect, Rattle N Roll might have earned himself a return trip to Saudi Arabia with the good-looking win over Willy D’s, who is two years younger than the favored winner.

A Grade 1 winner way back in 2021, Rattle N Roll is a stakes winner in each of his five seasons on the racetrack for trainer Kenny McPeek. With Saturday’s victory, he raised his career victory to 11 wins from 30 starts and career earnings of $3,638,941.

Last but certainly not least, Post Time will go out a winner by scoring a popular victory in the Robert T. Manfuso Stakes. He earned a measure of revenge for a tough defeat to his good younger rival Barbadian Runner in October’s Maryland Million Classic.

The clear favorite despite the defeat last time, Post Time rallied from last and powered by the six-time stakes-winning 3-year-old Barbadian Runner to win by 1 1/4 lengths as the betting favorite. 

The victory was his 11th win in 12 starts at Laurel Park for Post Time, who made his final career start Saturday. The 5-year-old son of Frosted closed out his career with 13 victories in 23 starts. 

Runner-up in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, the $85,000 yearling purchase finished in the top three in all but one of his career races and earned better than $1.5 million for owner Hillwood Stable.

Fittingly, Post Time will begin his second career in Maryland. The popular grey will be off to stud in 2026, standing at Northview Stallion Station.

The benefits of youth are not lost on me, but sometimes there is nothing like a pinch of maturity and a dash of experience.

It was an absolute pleasure to see the old boys Post Time, Rattle N Roll, Skippylongstocking and Wolfie’s Dynaghost enjoy another day in the sun at the expense of their younger rivals.