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Court Vision inherits GP Turf after 'Points gets taken down Starlight Partners' Take the Points (Even the Score) crossed the wire first in Saturday's $300,000 Gulfstream Park Turf H. (G1), only to be judged guilty of interference and demoted to fifth, elevating 4-5 favorite COURT VISION (Gulch) to the victory. After driving to the lead in the stretch, Take the Points crossed into the path of Yate's Black Cat (Black Minnaloushe), who took up and ultimately clipped heels. IEAH Stables, Resolute Group Stables and WinStar Farm's Court Vision stayed clear of the incident on the outside, while checking in 1 1/2 lengths adrift of Take the Points at the wire. The final time for the 1 1/8-mile test on firm turf was 1:46 4/5. Trained by Rick Dutrow and ridden by Robby Albarado, Court Vision thus improved on his third-place effort in last year's Gulfstream Park Turf. "I had a great trip," Albarado said. "I think my horse ran a great race and it was a good comeback for him. I was in striking distance with a chance to win and wasn't bothered in the stretch." The early pace was dictated by Le Grand Cru (Dynaformer). Striding to the front through an opening quarter in :23 1/5, Le Grand Cru enjoyed an uncontested lead through splits of :46 2/5 and 1:10. Take the Points took up a close stalking role, in conjunction with Court Vision's uncoupled stablemate, Adagio (GB) (Grand Lodge). Yate's Black Cat was settled in fourth, just ahead of Court Vision in fifth. Entering the stretch, Le Grand Cru hung tough and reached the mile in 1:34 2/5. By this point, Take the Points was just lengthening stride, however, and he quickly powered past the longtime leader. Then Kent Desormeaux aboard Yate's Black Cat was attempting to thread the needle between Take the Points and Le Grand Cru. The hole closed before Yate's Black Cat could muscle his way through, as Take the Points lugged in under Edgar Prado's right-handed whip. Desormeaux steadied his mount, who was also engaged in some scrimmaging with Le Grand Cru. Yate's Black Cat clipped heels and eventually crossed the wire in fifth. Meanwhile, on the outside, Court Vision was mounting a rally, and Never on Sunday (Fr) (Sunday Break [Jpn]) was gaining ground even more rapidly in deep stretch. Neither got close enough to threaten a driving winner in Take the Points. The stewards immediately flashed the inquiry sign. After reviewing the incident at the sixteenth-pole, they disqualified Take the Points for impeding Yate's Black Cat and placed him fifth. Todd Pletcher, the trainer of Take the Points, commented on the decision. "Mr. (Jack) Wolf (of Starlight Stables) and I have already talked about it and we'll consider an appeal," Pletcher said. "The head-on (camera) shot on turf is not really a true one. We thought the one (Le Grand Cru) came out a little (into Yate's Black Cat). The thing that bothers me most is that there was no way the horse he was supposed to have bothered was ever going to beat him. I've always thought that if it isn't clear you just leave it alone." Court Vision paid $3.80, $2.60 and $2.10. Never on Sunday, the nearly 9-2 third choice, reported home another neck back. The promoted runner-up returned $4.20 and $3.40 while ending the $15 exacta. Le Grand Cru, who came in a neck back of Never on Sunday, gave back $5.40 at nearly 15-1. The trifecta totaled $87.80, and with the 5-1 Yate's Black Cat awarded fourth place, the 3-4-1-2 superfecta was worth $290. Adagio was the only runner unaffected by the disqualification, finishing last of six. Formerly trained by Bill Mott, Court Vision had ranked as a leading juvenile on the dirt in 2007, capturing the Remsen S. (G2) and Iroquois S. (G3), and was accordingly regarded as a top Kentucky Derby (G1) prospect. Court Vision did not enjoy the same level of success on the surface at three, winding up third in the Fountain of Youth S. (G2) and Wood Memorial S. (G1), and he ultimately checked in 13th in the Run for the Roses. He then found a new home on the turf. Court Vision fell short of Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat) by a nose after a prolonged stretch duel in the 2008 Virginia Derby (G2), but turned the tables on that rival in the Jamaica H. (G2) and Hollywood Derby (G1). Court Vision's four-year-old campaign produced mixed results. In the first half of the season, his best finishes were thirds in the Gulfstream Park Turf and the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs. After a lackluster sixth in the United Nations S. (G1), Court Vision was switched to Dutrow. The dark bay was subsequently diagnosed with an ascended testicle, and once undergoing surgery for the problem, he began training sharply. Since joining Dutrow, Court Vision is now two-for-three. In his debut for his new barn, he captured the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) at Keeneland, and next time out, he was a rallying fourth in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1). His record now stands at 20-7-2-4, $1,777,430. Bred by William S. Farish and Kilroy Thoroughbred Partnership in Kentucky, Court Vision brought $180,000 as a Keeneland September yearling and $350,000 as a Fasig-Tipton Calder two-year-old. He is out of the unraced Weekend Storm (Storm Bird), a full sister to 1990 Preakness S. (G1) hero Summer Squall as well as a half-sister to 1992 Horse of the Year and mega-sire A.P. Indy (Seattle Slew) and multiple Grade 3-placed stallion Honor Grades (Danzig). Court Vision is himself a full brother to multiple Hong Kong stakes victor Garcia Marquez; Kipling, the sire of Breeders' Cup Mile winner Kip Deville; and an unnamed yearling colt. Weekend Storm has also produced Canadian Grade 3 heroine Smart Surprise (Smart Strike), Grade 1-placed stakes winner Lord Snowdon (Seeking the Gold), the stakes-placed Weekend Strike (Smart Strike) and an unraced sophomore colt named Hailstone (City Zip).
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