Saratoga: Russell knows Whitney is big ask for Post Time

Trainer Brittany Russell knows she is asking a lot of Post Time by sending him into Saturday’s Grade 1 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga. She hopes she is not asking too much.

The Maryland-bred son of 2016 Whitney winner Frosted must somehow make up 6 1/4 lengths against National Treasure. They finished 1-2 when both of them last raced in the June 8 Met Mile (G1) at Saratoga.

That is a ton of ground to find. It also must be noted that National Treasure, a prominent horse of the year candidate, was geared down by returning jockey Flavien Prat. Beyond that, the 4-year-old Post Time has never been asked to extend himself farther than a mile by Sheldon Russell, his regular rider.

The morning-line odds for the 1 1/8-mile Whitney reflect the improbability of a reversal. National Treasure, trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, will break from post 3 in a field of 12. He is favored at 9-5. Post Time drew the rail and is listed at 20-1.

Still, Russell did not hesitate to send him into the fray.

“We have confidence in him,” she said during a phone interview. “He doesn’t look at past performances. He doesn’t know what’s in there. I just know this horse will show up and run a race.”

Post Time always does. He has never failed to hit the board in 11 career starts, sweeping eight of them and earning $817,910. He appears to be a colt who is just finding his best stride.

“I feel like it’s a slow progression asking him to step up to the plate,” said Russell, 34. “We threw him a tough one last time and, look, he ran second to National Treasure and National Treasure is a really good horse. He has his work cut out for him, but it’s something we want to try.”

Russell’s opinion carries considerable weight. She became the first woman to lead the Maryland standings last season with 118 wins. She ranked 16th nationally with $7,996,867 in earnings, all while raising a daughter, Edy, and a son, Rye, with her husband, Sheldon.

Post Time is significantly better this year than last, having grown into an imposing physical specimen. He became a graded-stakes winner for the first time when he captured the Feb. 17 General George Stakes (G3) at Laurel Park and again reached the winner’s circle in the April 6 Carter (G2) at Aqueduct.

He is not afraid to throw around his weight.

“He’s just a lot of horse,” his trainer said. “He stands up a lot. He’s very playful and knows what he wants. If he doesn’t get his way, he might throw you a curveball. He’s not a mean horse. He’s not malicious. He’s just a funny character.”

It takes a special rider to handle him every morning. Russell is fortunate to have that in Emma Wolfe, her assistant at Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland.

“He’s difficult to ride, and she’s a very good rider. They formed a really good relationship,” Russell said. “She rides him well. The horse loves her.”

Post Time has worked four times since the Met Mile, all of them at Fair Hill. He returned to the work tab July 6 with a five-furlong drill in 1:00.60. In his last drill before the Whitney, he covered four furlongs in 49 seconds flat.

Russell said much will depend on whether there is a runner willing to match strides with National Treasure, or at least pressure him, in the early going. Whatever happens, her husband will not take their prized colt out of the stalking style he prefers.

“Our running style is our horse gets comfortable and you hope he’s running late,” she said. “It’s going to have to be the right setup on the right day.”

As is so often the case, pace should make this race.