DEL MAR, Calif – Post Time, trained by Clarksville’s Brittany Russell and ridden by her husband, Sheldon Russell, finished second in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Saturday.
Full Serrano from Argentina went 13-1 in the race, finishing with a time of 1:35.48 and winning $28.80. Third place went to a homegrown product who was a 3-1 favorite.
Last year, Brittany Russell became the first woman to win the Maryland State Drill Championship. She finished 2023 with career highs of 177 wins in 687 starts and nearly $8 million in career earnings.
This year, Post Time ran second in the $1 million Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap, one of the most prestigious races on the Belmont Stakes undercard.
Post Time was founded in Maryland by Dr. Thomas Bowman and his wife Chris; doctor. Brooke Bowman; and Milton P. Higgins III.
Sierra Leone won the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic by 1 1/2 lengths at Del Mar, ending a disappointing recent losing streak that included the Kentucky Derby.
Sierra Leone ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:00.78, ridden by Flavien Prat. The three-year-old colt paid $15.80, $5.60 and $3.60 in his first race after a two-month layoff and was sent off as the 6-1 fourth choice.
“I’m really happy because the horse fell short a couple of times,” trainer Chad Brown said. “I thought he had some excuses, but he’s a very consistent horse, very loyal and one of the best horses I’ve ever owned.”