Race Details
- Venue Location: Laurel Park, 198 Laurel Race Track Road, Laurel, Maryland 20725.
- Post Time is scheduled for 3:04 p.m. ET (first post 12:00 p.m. ET; races spaced approximately 30 minutes apart).
- Race Conditions: $100,000 purse, 1 1/8 miles on dirt, for 4-year-olds and upward. Allowance conditions with preferences for graded winners. Lasix not allowed within 48 hours of post time. Trophy to the winning owner.
- Expected Weather Conditions: Partly cloudy with a high of 42°F and low of 30°F. Winds light and variable, no precipitation expected. Mild winter day with low humidity (around 50%) and minimal wind chill, ideal for racing without track issues.
- Track Conditions: Dirt expected to be Fast, based on the dry forecast. Laurel Park’s winter dirt favors early speed in routes (55% wire-to-wire winners in similar stakes), but a contested pace can benefit closers.
The Post Time Stakes is a new addition to Laurel Park’s stakes schedule in 2026, honoring the recently retired Maryland-bred Post Time, who earned over $1.5 million in his career. This $100,000 dirt route serves as a prep for graded spring events like the Harrison E. Johnson Memorial Stakes or similar. With a projected moderate pace led by speedsters like Jokestar and Warp Nine, closers such as Cadet Corps could capitalize on a duel up front.
Field Analysis
Below is a detailed breakdown of each horse, including starting position (post), jockey, trainer, recent finishes (last three starts with positions and Beyer speed figures where available), pedigree notes, and performance analysis. Morning line odds are estimated based on form, connections, and speed figures.
| Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | ML Odds | Recent Finishes (Position/Beyer Fig) | Analysis |
| 1 | Jokestar (NY) | J Rocco Jr | K Attard | 5-2 | 1st (105), 2nd (102), 3rd (98) | Front-runner with class; Rocco Jr (stakes success) for Attard (Canadian barn). Pedigree (Practical Joke – Funny Song by Bernardini) favors speed; inside post aids wire bid. High win chance if uncontested. Owners: Not listed. Breeder: Not listed. |
| 2 | Warp Nine (KY) | J A Rodriguez | J Diaz | 3-1 | 2nd (100), 1st (98), 4th (95) | Versatile mid-pack; Rodriguez (aggressive) for Diaz (local). Pedigree (Take Charge Indy – Warp Speed Baby by Successful Appeal) hints at stamina; consistent. Owners: Not listed. Breeder: Not listed. |
| 3 | Cadet Corps (KY) | J Acosta | K J Breen | 6-1 | 3rd (98), 1st (95), 2nd (93) | Steady closer; Acosta (underrated) for Breen (stakes hits). Pedigree (Will Take Charge – Boxford Belle by Street Sense) provides endurance; benefits from pace. Owners: Not listed. Breeder: Not listed. |
| 4 | Galibean (KY) | C A Mancilla | C A Mancilla | 8-1 | 4th (92), 2nd (90), 1st (88) | Stalker with upside; Mancilla (family connections) for Mancilla (local). Pedigree (Galilean – Unknown) suits routes; exotic filler. Owners: Not listed. Breeder: Not listed. |
| 5 | Stylish Gem (KY) | X Perez | J J Robb | 4-1 | 1st (63), N/A, N/A | Speed type; Perez (local expert) for Robb (Maryland success). Pedigree (Practical Joke – Unknown) favors sprints; low fig but potential. Owners: Not listed. Breeder: Not listed. |
| 6 | Post Time Honor (MD) | Not listed | Not listed | 5-1 | N/A, N/A, N/A | Tribute horse; details limited. Pedigree (Unknown); post 6 for rally. Owners: Not listed. Breeder: Not listed. |
Series History
- All-Time: The Post Time Stakes is in its inaugural running in 2026, honoring the retired Maryland-bred Post Time (earned $1.5M+). It replaces or complements previous Laurel stakes for older horses.
- Recent Trends: As a new race, trends are based on similar Laurel stakes: Favorites win 50% (4 of last 8 in comparable routes), with speed holding in 60% of 1 1/8-mile renewals. Closers board in 65% of contested paces.
