Post Time stretches out to a mile for the first time Sunday when he faces a strong group of Maryland-bred or -sired performers in Laurel Park’s $75,000 Jennings Stakes for 4-year-olds and upward. The Jennings shares top billing on the 10-race program with the one-mile Geisha for fillies and mares that are Maryland-bred or -sired. Both stakes were originally carded for Jan. 20, but were postponed after extreme winter conditions forced Laurel to cancel Jan. 19-21. Racing was also abandoned on Friday, Jan. 26 following the cancellation of morning training on Wednesday and Thursday due to rain and fluctuating temperatures affecting track conditions. Gallopers exercised on the Laurel main track Friday with timed workouts scheduled to resume Saturday. :: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets. Trained by Brittany Russell, Post Time was the 2022 Maryland-bred champion 2-year-old male after being unbeaten in three starts. He returned from a lengthy layoff to win two of three races last year and breezed a bullet half-mile in 49.60 seconds earlier in the week. “We were lucky we let him stretch his legs on Monday,” Russell said. “The track has obviously been a tough winter track. It’s been heavy, it’s been deep. I was really happy with that work.” “We’re excited to try him a mile,” Russell told track publicity last week about Post Time, who has won three races at seven furlongs. “He’s always going to be a horse that we have to worry about his quirks, but he runs. Double Crown might be Post Time’s biggest threat as the Grade 2 winner recently captured the Robert T. Manfuso on Dec. 23 for trainer Raymond Ginter Jr. and owner Lynn Cash’s Built Wright Stables. Last week, Cash gave credit to Double Crown’s jockey, Jeiron Barbosa. “Barbosa keeps him in a good spot, doesn’t wear him out in the beginning and keeps him close enough. I think Double Crown is probably running as good as ever.” Double Crown returned to Kentucky to train up to the Jennings and worked an unrecorded five-eighths in company with stakes-winning sprinter Cowan about two weeks ago. “There’s a little deeper track [at the Thoroughbred Training Center], and we’ve had better luck when he trains on a thicker track.” Seven’s Eleven has won four of his last five for trainer Carlos Mancilla, including two restricted sprint stakes. Most recently, he dominated second-level allowance runners at a mile despite failing to change leads in the stretch. Breaking from the inside post, Seven’s Eleven will likely be forwardly placed along with Dee Jay, who ships in from Penn National following a front-running 93 Beyer victory in a third-level allowance. All Threes, Dolice Vita, and Holy Synchronicity also are entered along with Joe, who is cross-entered in an allowance race on Saturday. Geisha Stakes Malibu Moonshine, the Maryland-bred champion juvenile filly of 2022, looks for her first win in over a year when she races for the second time off a significant layoff in the Geisha. The multiple stakes winner was fourth in a second-level allowance at Aqueduct on Nov. 24. “The last one was a little too short for her, but we needed to get her back going,” trainer Charlton Baker told track publicity last week. “That was a good place to get her started.” Russell counters with Northern Glow, who has hit the board in six of seven starts. She finished second in her 4-year-old debut in a first-level allowance racing 1 1/16 miles on Jan. 6. That race came a month after she won her route debut in a state-sired allowance. Sheldon Russell pilots from post 6. “Sheldon [Russell] always said to stretch her out,” Brittany Russell said. “She was knocking on the door sprinting, and I just wasn’t ready to try it. When we did, we expected her to enjoy it, and she did. I think she keeps getting a touch better, and she’s better mentally as well.” Although Circle Home hasn’t won on dirt, she drops into the restricted ranks after finishing fourth in the Carousel on Dec. 23. She is a confirmed closer along with Mavilus, who upset the restricted Conniver at seven furlongs last year. “She’s doing so good,” trainer Carlos Mancilla said about Mavilus. “It’s a tough race. I’m taking a shot. She likes to race outside. Last time [sixth in an open second-level allowance], she ran inside.” Brooklyn Girl steps up significantly after winning two off-turf races. Bella Bettina recently rallied from last to capture a first-level allowance for trainer Sammy Davis. Champagne Toast was beaten double-digits against open company in her last two starts, but goes out for trainer Lacey Gaudet, who had won with 17 of her last 33 starters heading into Saturday’s action. Royal Whisper deserves respect after hitting the board in her last four starts with competitive Beyer Speed Figures. I’m Gittin There completes the field. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.