MJC at Laurel: Post Time Rolls to Easy Victory in $75,000 Jennings

By David Joseph —-

Post Time Rolls to Easy Victory in $75,000 Jennings

LAUREL, MD – Hillwood Stable’s Post Time, patiently ridden by jockey Sheldon Russell, trailed early before working his way between horses in the stretch and powering to a popular 6 ½-length triumph in Sunday’s $75,000 Jennings at Laurel Park.

The 80th running of the Jennings for 4-year-olds and up co-headlined a 10-race program with the $75,000 Geisha for fillies and mares 4 and older. Both races, contested at one mile and restricted to Maryland-bred/sired horses, were originally scheduled for Jan. 20 but postponed due to weather.

It was the second straight win, sixth in seven career races and third in a stakes for Post Time ($3.40), who completed the distance in 1:36.73 over a sloppy and sealed main track. The gray or roan son of Frosted had not raced since a rallying head victory in the seven-furlong City of Laurel over Thanksgiving weekend.

Holy Synchronicity, sent off at 30-1, emerged from between multiple stakes winner Seven’s Eleven on the rail and All Threes on the outside to lead through an opening quarter-mile in 24.03 seconds. All Threes moved up on even terms with Holy Synchronicity after a half in 47.35, while Russell bided his time on 3-5 favorite Post Time trailing the field.

Russell began to move on Post Time rounding the far turn and straightened for home with plenty of horse while searching for a spot. He was able to tip outside of front-running All Threes approaching the eighth pole and accelerated under a hand ride to open up on his rivals and draw clear.

Seven’s Eleven passed a tiring All Threes to get second by 2 ½ lengths, and it was 4 ½ lengths back to Grade 3 winner Double Crown in fourth, followed by Dee Jay and Holy Synchronicity. Joe and Dolice Vita were scratched.

Post Time was named Maryland’s champion 2-year-old of 2022 after capping a perfect 3-0 season with a victory in the Maryland Juvenile. An injury delayed the start to his 3-year-old season, returning with an optional claiming victory over older horses last September at historic Pimlico Race Course. He finished third in the seven-furlong Perryville at Keeneland, his lone start away from Laurel.

The Jennings was Post Time’s first time racing as far as one mile. He is under consideration for the $250,000 General George (G3) sprinting seven furlongs Feb. 17 at Laurel.

The Jennings honors William Jennings Sr., one of Maryland’s greatest horsemen whose Glengar Farm was located six miles from historic Pimlico Race Course. Jennings bred, owned and trained 1887 Preakness winner Dunboyne. His grandson, Henry S. Clark, followed in his footsteps and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame in 1982.

Malibu Moonshine Narrow Winner of $75,000 Geisha

Happy Face Racing Stable’s Malibu Moonshine returned to the winner’s circle for the first time since her Maryland championship season of 2022, coming with a steady late run to edge Northern Glow by a neck in the 51st running of the $75,000 Geisha.

Ridden by Angel Cruz for New York-based trainer Charlton Baker, 4-year-old Malibu Moonshine ($15.80) trailed all but one horse in the early going as 5-2 favorite Northern Glow went in 24.59 seconds for a quarter-mile and 48.02 for the half, opening a clear advantage midway around the turn as Northern Glow moved into second.

Cruz swung Malibu Moonshine to the center of the track in mid-stretch, passing 14-1 long shot Bella Bettina to her inside and reeling in Northern Glow approaching the wire to win by a neck in 1:40.08 over a sloppy and sealed main track. It was a head back to Royal Whisper in third.

I’m Gittin There, Bella Bettina, Circle Home, Mavilus, Brooklyn Girl and Champagne Toast completed the order of finish.

“She came with a nice run. She had to come outside. She was blocked inside the whole way so it was a great race for her. I’m very pleased with the race,” Baker said. “She had been training great, so it’s great to see her get back into the winner’s circle and get her confidence up a little bit.”

Maryland’s champion 2-year-old bred by Dr. Ronald Harris Parker, Malibu Moonshine won the Maryland Juvenile Filly and Gin Talking at Laurel to complete 2022 season where she went unbeaten in three starts. She got time off after each of her races last year, one each in February, July and November, and had to wait an extra week when the Geisha was postponed.

“The wait was all right. I wasn’t worried about the wait. I was actually good with it, to tell you the truth,” Baker said. “I’m going to see what the Maryland-bred races are like going forward and see where we go from there. I’d like to keep her with Maryland-breds.”

The Geisha pays homage to Alfred G. Vanderbilt’s Maryland-bred daughter of Discsovery, foaled in 1943 at his Sagamore Farm in Glyndon, Md. Bred to 1945 Preakness winner Polynesian, she produced one of the greatest racehorses and sires of the 20th century, Native Dancer, in 1950.

Guanare, Roanan Goddess Take First 3YO Stakes in Maryland

P & G Stables’ Guanare extended his win streak to three races, taking the lead from multiple stakes winner Sweet Soddy J on the far turn and coasting home by 2 ¾ lengths in Saturday’s $100,000 Spectacular Bid for newly turned 3-year-olds.

The Spectacular Bid is the first in Laurel’s series of stakes for sophomores leading up to the 149th Preakness (G1), Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, May 18 at historic Pimlico Race Course.

Guanare ($2.60) completed seven furlongs over a muddy and sealed main track in 1:25.16 to capture his stakes debut under jockey Romero Maragh. All three of his wins have come since joining trainer Rick Dutrow last fall, the first two coming at Aqueduct. He had not run since a 6 ¾-length starter optional claiming triumph Nov. 30.

Mens Grille Racing’s Roanan Goddess slipped through a seam on the inside of erratic pacesetter Renconcile in mid-stretch and went on to a 2 ½-length victory in the $100,000 Xtra Heat for newly turned 3-year-old fillies.

Ridden by Jeiron Barbosa, it was the first stakes win for Hamilton Smith-trained Roanan Goddess ($6), who had finished sixth in the Smart Halo and fourth in the Gin Talking, both at Laurel, to end her juvenile campaign. The winning time was 1:11.87 for six furlongs.

The Xtra Heat is Laurel’s first stakes for sophomore fillies en route to the 1 1/8-mile Black-Eyed Susan (G2) at Pimlico, which will be celebrating its 100th running May 17.

Notes: Jockey Jaime Rodriguez rode two winners Sunday, Startswithadream ($23.60) in Race 3 and Le Vin ($4.40) in Race 5 … Jevian Toledo also doubled aboard Bay Street ($20.60 in Race 7 and Mose Perfect ($) in Race 10, as did five-pound apprentice Martina Rojas on Lady Serenity ($21.40) in Race 2 and Bob Marco ($3.20) in Race 6 … It was the fourth straight win for Helen Marshall’s 5-year-old gelding Bob Marco, all with Rojas up for trainer Kieron Magee … The 20-cent Rainbow 6 was solved for an $8,449.94 payout Sunday. There will be a carryover of $5,206.16 in the $1 Jackpot Super High Five (Race 6) when live racing returns Friday, Feb. 2.

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