Things briefly got a little dicey for Post Time in mid-stretch of Saturday’s $125,000 Deputed Testamony Stakes at Laurel Park.

Jockey Sheldon Russell had plenty of horse under him and two tiring runners ahead of him – but no place to go. Then he found a small seam between rivals, barged through that hole, and the rest went precisely to script as Post Time drew away to win by 3 ½ lengths.

“He got the job done,” said trainer Brittany Russell, Sheldon’s wife. “I just am relieved.”

Kept intact: Post Time’s spotless record over his home track, where he’s now 9-for-9, and his ledger of 18 in-the-money finished from 18 starts. He now has 11 wins in those starts and more than $1.35 million in earnings.

Post Time, last year’s Top Midlantic-bred and Maryland-bred Horse of the Year, capped his big 2024 campaign with a runner-up finish in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. He began this year with a 13-length allowance win locally before finishing third, beaten 1 ¼ lengths by 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, in the Grade 3 Blame at Churchill Downs.

Back home today, he towered over the field, going off at odds of 1-9 and attracting a full winners’ circle featuring owner Ellen Charles, who races as Hillwood Stable, breeders Dr. and Mrs. Tom Bowman and their son Dr. Brooke Bowman, and their families and friends.

“It’s nice to bring it home,” said Brittany Russell. “Ellen loves to win with him here. It’s cool that he’s done what he has here.”

The race did not develop in a particularly appealing way for the late-running Post Time, a five-year-old Maryland-bred son of Frosted. One scratch left a short field of five and one speed horse, multiple stakes winner Speedyness, trained by Jamie Ness. A ragged start allowed Speedyness to clear quickly, and jockey Jaime Rodriguez stepped on the brakes almost immediately, doling out a glacial quarter-mile of 25.79 seconds, a half in 51.16, and three quarters in 1:15.57.

Offaly Cool was his nearest pursuer at that point, one length back, while Sheldon Russell shook away from longshots Tell ‘Em I’m Comin and Curlin’s Malibu to be third, 2 ½ lengths behind the leader.

Offaly Cool overcame Speedyness late by a length for second. Speeydness was 9 ½ lengths clear of Tell ‘Em I’m Comin, and Curlin’s Malibu rounded out the field. Running time for 1 1/8 miles on a fast main track was 1:51.36.

Post Time paid $2.20 to win and topped an exacta that paid just $2.10 for a one-dollar wager.

Last year’s plan for Post Time saw him run a good third in the Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga. This year, Brittany Russell said, her barn star may stay closer to home and target the Grade 2, $1 million Charles Town Classic at Charles Town Races.

“I know it’s a little curveball from what he did last year,” the trainer said. “But we’re just kind of looking at what’s out there. None of these spots are going to be easy, but I think it makes sense to try. We can take him down there. We can work him under the lights. Hopefully, it’s a little bit of a new spot for him to win a race.”