Post Time Dominates $200,000 General George Stakes with Late Rally
In a stunning display of power and determination, Post Time claimed victory in the $200,000 General George Stakes (G3) at Laurel Park. The Maryland-bred son of Frosted, trained by Brittany Russell and ridden by her husband Sheldon Russell, crossed the finish line three lengths ahead of the competition in a time of 1:23.33 for seven furlongs on a fast main track.
Post Time had caught the attention of racing enthusiasts with his impressive win in the one-mile Jennings Stakes against state-breds at Laurel Park last month. The four-year-old colt had a perfect record of 6-for-6 over the Maryland oval before the General George Stakes, with his only career loss coming in the Perryville Stakes at Keeneland.
Under Sheldon Russell's skilled guidance, Post Time stayed calm and collected in fifth position during the early stages of the race. As fellow Maryland-bred Seven's Eleven set the pace, Post Time made a tremendous move on the final turn, circling five-wide to launch his late rally. With every stride, Post Time closed in on the leader, eventually surging past Seven's Eleven at the sixteenth pole and storming to victory.
Seven's Eleven, who had finished second to Post Time in the Jennings Stakes, once again settled for the runner-up position. Tenebris, a 24-1 longshot, finished third.
Hillwood Stable, the owners of Post Time, celebrated their third General George Stakes win, adding to their victories with Bandbox in 2014 and Cordmaker in 2022. Post Time's triumph boosted his earnings to $417,910 and marked his fourth black-type win.
Sheldon Russell expressed some concerns about shortening the distance to seven-eighths of a mile for Post Time, but the lack of speedy competition in the race worked to their advantage. "I felt like he traveled good. If anything, I felt like we had to rush him a little bit, but once I got him clear at the eighth pole he spurted clear and showed his true class," said Russell.
Apple Picker Overcomes Obstacles to Claim Barbara Fritchie Stakes
In a thrilling battle, Apple Picker emerged victorious in the seven-furlong Barbara Fritchie Stakes. The four-year-old daughter of Connect, also trained by Brittany Russell and ridden by Sheldon Russell, showcased her tenacity and talent as she overcame traffic troubles to secure the winner's share of the $200,000 purse.
Apple Picker started the race at the back of the field of seven, patiently biding her time as the frontrunners set a blistering pace. At the three-eighths pole, Sheldon Russell steered Apple Picker towards a gap between horses, but the door quickly closed. The determined jockey swiftly changed tactics and pulled his mount towards the rail to find another opening.
Despite facing obstacles, Apple Picker continued to improve throughout the race. Russell had to reroute once again, this time outside, to avoid a fading contender. Once in the clear, Apple Picker unleashed her powerful stride, surging between pacesetter Disco Ebo and the late-closing Last Leaf to claim victory by a length in a time of 1:25.22.
Last Leaf held on to second place, while Prodigy Doll made a late charge to finish third.
Brittany Russell had carefully planned Apple Picker's training leading up to the Barbara Fritchie Stakes, opting not to run her in a prep race and instead focus solely on the graded stakes event. The strategy paid off handsomely, with Apple Picker earning her first graded stakes win and increasing her career earnings to $330,783.
"I was really happy with the way she came into it. We had this race in mind for quite some time," said Brittany Russell.
The victories of Post Time and Apple Picker marked back-to-back stakes wins for trainer Brittany Russell and jockey Sheldon Russell at Laurel Park, solidifying their status as a formidable team in the racing world.
Analyst comment
Positive news: Post Time and Apple Picker both won graded stakes races at Laurel Park, giving trainer Brittany Russell and her husband, jockey Sheldon Russell, back-to-back stakes victories. Post Time showcased his talent with an impressive late-rallying victory, while Apple Picker overcame traffic to secure a hard-fought win. This success demonstrates the skill and potential of these horses, boosting their market value in the racing industry.
