Post Time runs away with Polynesian Stakes
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It was a far cry from the Grade 1 Whitney, but Post Time couldn’t have looked much better dominating two rivals in the $100,000 Polynesian Stakes at Laurel Park on Sunday. In his 10th straight victory at his home track, the local superstar pulled away to win by 17 lengths, the largest winning margin of his career.
The 1-20 favorite was as intimidating as he was effective in the Polynesian, as Inveigled and Light the Way, his two likeliest challengers, both scratched. Northern Flame and Awesome Ruta both entered with stakes experience, but neither had much to offer last year’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile runner-up.
Northern Flame took the lead in the field of three, completing the opening quarter-mile in 24.20 seconds and half-mile in 47.76. Sheldon Russell didn’t rush Post Time from third, but the 5-year-old naturally seemed to advance past both rivals and was already ahead by 2 1/2 lengths on the far turn. He extended to lead by 10 by the time he reached the stretch.
In the Polynesian last year, Post Time defeated a field of five by 11 1/2 lengths, the most convincing victory of his career to that point. In his 2025 debut at Laurel in May, he crushed an allowance field by 13 1/4 lengths to surpass that personal best.
His 17-length victory on Sunday was yet another improvement on that mark, further cementing his overwhelming superiority in his home state. He is the only horse since 1991 to remain undefeated in his first 10 starts at Laurel, standing out among countless local legends since. He completed the mile in 1:37.23 and paid $2.10 to win.
Northern Flame, the early leader trained by Bruno Tessore, finished 14 lengths ahead of Awesome Ruta, a 4-year-old colt trained by Dan Ward.
Trainer Brittany Russell said last week that Post Time is not being pointed to the Breeders’ Cup this year, with vast improvements in the older dirt horse division leaving him on the outskirts at the highest level. The trainer is far from done this year, however, and also said there are plenty of spots to consider as the Maryland-bred star wraps up his 5-year-old campaign.
“We know him well and we know he needs four weeks, five weeks,” Russell said. “We’ve taken care of him and spaced his races, and I think that’s why he’s still running now and running well. We certainly won’t change that.”
If the Polynesian is any indication, there are few in the Mid-Atlantic region who would even try to challenge him any time soon.
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