Post Time outfinishes Castle Chaos for Carter victory

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Turning for home in Saturday’s Grade 2 Carter Stakes at Aqueduct, jockey Sheldon Russell guided Post Time four-wide for the stretch run.

On a track that was favoring inside runners - at least through the first three races - Russell knew he was not on the right part of the track. Moreover, he was going to have to run by Super Chow, a horse known for drifting out severely late in his races.

But Post Time knows how to win. Despite the trip, Post Time made it eight wins in nine career starts, getting past Super Chow late and ultimately outfinishing the rail-rallying Castle Chaos to win the $279,000 Carter by a neck. It was 1 1/2 lengths back to Super Chow, who was two lengths clear of Whittington Park. Petulante scratched.

Russell said he had Post Time where he did at that point of the race because Super Chow, under Madison Olver, was having things his own way up on the lead, the pace was pedestrian - the half-mile went in 48.18 seconds - and Russell didn’t want to leave Post Time too much to do.

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“I just sort of wanted to get him close enough turning for home to where he didn’t get outkicked, especially if Super Chow was going to get it his own way,” said Russell, the husband of Post Time’s trainer Brittany Russell. “Super Chow was able to drift to me and it would have been my worst nightmare if he didn’t get by him today because it would have been my fault. Fair play to the horse, he got me out of a jackpot and he saved my marriage.”

Britanny Russell also indicated the horse helped keep harmony in the home.

“Sheldon got a little wide on the turn there, I was like ‘Oh, geez,’ " Brittany Russell said. “But he’s a good horse and he got the job done.”

Post Time, a 4-year-old Maryland-bred son of Frosted owned by Ellen Charles’ Hillwood Stable, added the Grade 2 Carter to a win in the Grade 3 General George at Laurel in February. It was Post Time’s first win outside of Maryland.

For Russell, it was the second straight year she won the Carter. Last year, when the Carter was still a Grade 1, she upset the field with 17-1 Doppelganger.

“I can’t believe we did it two years in a row,” Russell said. “When you’re the favorite there’s a little more pressure.”

Post Time covered the seven furlongs in 1:24.00 and returned $3.60 as the favorite and was given a 91 Beyer Speed Figure.

Brittany Russell said she would talk to Charles about what’s next, but the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap on June 8 at Saratoga will certainly be discussed.

Dylan Davis, the rider of Castle Chaos, thought he was going to win the race when he had the inside to himself in the stretch.

“The last 70 yards, he got a little complacent there,” Davis said. “He’s looking around, his ears started flicking, he kind of idled those last couple of jumps. He put a great effort up. I thought we were home free.”

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