Post Time tries a mile against tough group in Jennings

Post Time faces a salty group of statebred or Maryland-sired performers in Laurel’s $75,000 Jennings for 4-year-olds and up traveling a one-turn mile.

The Jennings is one of four Saturday stakes with the $75,000 Geisha for Maryland-bred or -sired fillies and mares at a mile, the $100,000 What a Summer for fillies and mares at six furlongs, and the $100,000 Fire Plug for 4-year-olds and upward at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Track conditions could be affected by snow expected Friday through early Saturday. Frigid wind-chill temperatures in the single digits are expected.

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Trained by Brittany Russell, Post Time was 2022’s Maryland-bred champion 2-year-old male after being unbeaten from three starts. He returned from a lengthy layoff to win two of three races last year.

“We’re excited to try him a mile,” Russell told track publicity 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. He might be a little fresh with that weather, but he’s doing really good,”

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.

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 Fire Plug entrant Cowan “eight or nine days ago,” according to Cash.

“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 stakes sprinting. Most recently, he dominated second-level allowance performers at a mile.

Multiple stakes winners Joe and Coffeewithchris look to end droughts. Joe hasn’t scored since the 2022 James W. Murphy on turf at Pimlico, and races with new blinkers. Coffeewithchris’s last win came in Laurel’s Miracle Wood last February.

Holy Synchronicity, Dee Jay, and All Threes complete the field.

Fire Plug Stakes

Venerable 10-year-old gelding Greeley and Ben, winner of Laurel’s Dave’s Friend two back, was named the tepid 4-1 favorite in an excellent renewal of the Fire Plug.

Trained by Horacio De Paz, Greeley and Ben returned to action one week after the Dave’s Friend and placed fifth in Aqueduct’s Gravesend.

“A little ambitious coming back a week later to Aqueduct with a solid field of horses that he faced, but he took care of himself,” said De Paz.

De Paz added that Greeley and Ben bounced out of the Gravesend in good spirits. “Considering he is a 10-year-old, he’s a happy horse on the racetrack.”

Ginter and Cash send out the uncoupled entry of Cowan and Sir Alfred James. Cowan “lost a shoe,” according to Cash when fourth, beaten only three-quarters of a length in the Dave’s Friend.

Sir Alfred James finished ninth in the Dave’s Friend. “He got hit hard coming out of the gate. His back end was a little sore coming out of the race. I think he’s in better form than his last two races have shown.”

Brother Conway, claimed for $16,000 by trainer Kieron Magee in June, makes his stakes debut seeking his fifth consecutive victory.

Frat Pack, purchased for $240,000 at Keeneland November, makes his first start for trainer Whit Beckman.

“He always ran fast races,” Beckman said. “We were hoping to get an invite to Saudi [Riyadh Dirt Sprint, Feb. 24] if he would run well here.”

Dollarization, Classier, Overly Critical, Dontmesawithme, and O’Conner Sunset also entered. Super Chow cross-entered at Gulfstream on Saturday.

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What a Summer Stakes

Stakes winners Headland and Kant Hurry Love are the headliners in the What a Summer.

Headland, trained by George Weaver, made her Laurel debut a winning one with a gate-to-wire score in last month’s Willa On the Move.

Kant Hurry Love finished 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Headland when necked by Hot Fudge in Aqueduct’s Garland of Roses on Dec. 9.

White Chocolate has early speed, and exits a strong front-running win at Aqueduct.

Geisha Stakes

Malibu Moonshine looks for her first win since the end of 2022 when she races second 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. “That was a good place to get her started.”

Mavilus, Northern Glow, Royal Whisper, Circle Home, and I’m Gittin There also can contend in a wide-open event.

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