The $279,000 Carter Handicap (G2) was a doppelganger of sorts for trainer Brittany Russell.
A year ago, she won the historic spring stakes with, yes, Doppelganger , who scored a 17-1 upset. On April 6, another Russell trainee returned to the Aqueduct Racetrack winner's circle after the Carter, though there were a couple of noticeable differences.
Her 2024 victor, the nearly perfect Post Time , was hardly a longshot. Now a winner of eight of nine career starts, the 4-year-old Maryland-bred Frosted colt was the 4-5 favorite in an abbreviated field of four. Post Time also received credit for only a grade 2 win as the 126th edition of a race that produced the famed 1944 triple-dead-heat for first was downgraded from its 2023 grade 1 status.
"How rude that they downgraded it after Doppelganger won it. How rude!" Russell said through a laugh after her husband, Sheldon Russell, guided Post Time to a neck victory over Castle Chaos. "But it still feels good to win it.
"I can't believe we did it two years in a row."
While Doppelganger did not win a graded stakes after his victory in the Carter, the future appears much brighter for the runner owned by Ellen Charles of Hillwood Stable. The gray or roan colt's only loss came in October in the Perryville Stakes at Keeneland, when he was third by 1 1/4 lengths, and the Carter gave him back-to-back graded stakes wins following a score in the Feb. 17 General George Stakes (G3) at Laurel Park.
While Russell would not commit to what's next for Post Time, the prospect of a start in the prestigious one-mile Metropolitan Handicap (G1) June 8 at Saratoga Race Course surely is something to consider.
"I think he'd love the mile. It's something to think about," she said. "(Charles) loves to race in Maryland and race at home but we need to think of other things now."
For Charles, who is in her 80s, Post Time has produced some of the greatest thrills in the sport for a woman who has been associated with racing for most of her life.
"I was born in New York but grew up in Maryland. It was so exciting. These beautiful animals can make you so proud. I'm very fortunate to (work with) people like Brittany and Sheldon."
Lea Farms' Super Chow, the 6-5 second choice, got away with the lead and soft fractions of :24.38 and :48.18 but tired and drifted out in the stretch, making it difficult for Post Time to get by from the outside. Sanford Goldfarb, Nice Guys Stables, and owner-trainer Robert Falcone Jr.'s Castle Chaos (by Palace Malice) benefitted from an inside rally to draw even with Post Time, but the favorite edged away to cover the seven furlongs in 1:24. He paid $3.60.
It's POST TIME! The 4YO son of @DarleyAmerica stallion Frosted, wins the Carter Handicap pres. by @NYRABets (G2) under @SheldonRussell1 for @BTRracingstable! pic.twitter.com/Bv83ZfEmvW
— NYRA (đź—˝) (@TheNYRA) April 6, 2024
"This is what good horses do," Sheldon Russell said. "They overcome a lot of things. You don't really make excuses for good horses. They just know how to win."
Post Time was bred by Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Dr. Brooke Bowman, and Milton Higgins III out of the stakes-winning Fairbanks mare Vielsalm. An earner of $582,910, he was bought for $85,000 from the Becky Davis consignment at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern Fall Yearling Sale.
The third of four foals from Vielsalm and her first stakes winner and third winner, Post Time also has a 2-year-old half sister by McKinzie named Field Song.
Video: Carter S. Presented by NYRA Bets (G2)
Reasoned Analysis Upsets Bay Shore at 15-1
Give Reasoned Analysis a clean start and the sky's the limit for the 3-year-old colt that came from the clouds April 6 to upset the seven-furlong Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Owned by Klaravich Stables and trained by Chad Brown, Reasoned Analysis entered the Bay Shore off his maiden win Feb. 25 at Aqueduct. That race was his first in which he did not get bumped at the break.
In the Bay Shore, Reasoned Analysis broke well and jockey Eric Cancel gave him a patient ride toward the back of the pack, where he stayed for the first five furlongs. The colt went wide coming out of the turn and into the stretch and then flew passed frontrunner Maximus Meridius to win by 3 1/4 lengths at 15-1. The final time was 1:24.35.
"I just wanted to leave my horse very comfortable," Cancel said. "I knew what I had underneath me. I've been working him. I was just patient with him. I just wanted to get a clean trip, and I did. It worked out well."
Brown gave credit to his assistant trainer Dan Stupp for recognizing the horse was ready.
"It was a last minute entry when it looked like there was going to be a lot of pace in the race. We threw him in there to complement the other one and it worked out," Brown said referring to Karavich's Proprietary Trade, who finished seventh. "Eric was patient and timed it just right to start his run."
Reasoned Analysis is a son of Airdrie Stud's Upstart out of the Majesticperfection winner We Love Lucy. The colt was purchased for $100,000 as a short yearling during the 2022 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale by Sand Hill Bloodstock. He has earned $135,300.
