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Bench Points nips Runflatout in Laz Barrera
Flightofalifetime (Werblin) sped to the fore through splits of :22 1/5 and :45 2/5. Prompting the issue in second was Ain't No Other (Old Topper), who had extended his winning streak to five in the grassy Harry Henson S. last time out. Runflatout was parked in third, watching the pace rivals. Sinai (Rockport Harbor) came next, and Bench Points was just settling into stride at the rear. Ain't No Other took over from the weakening Flightofalifetime turning for home and edged away, but Runflatout was launching his bid, and Bench Points was beginning to enter the frame widest of all. Although Bench Points appeared ready to storm past, Runflatout still had plenty of fight left and dug in for battle. Bench Points and Runflatout pulled clear and hit the wire together, with Bench Points prevailing by a nose. Ain't No Other checked in a further 2 1/4 lengths back in third, followed by Sinai and a tailed-off Flightofalifetime. "I knew Runflatout was going to be tough at the end," Bejarano said, "so that's why when I saw him move a little bit from the three-eighths (pole) I tried to get close to him. When we came to the stretch, the horse in front (Ain't No Other) was lugging out and (Runflatout) reacted right away. My horse kept running and showed me a big kick." Garrett Gomez, Runflatout's rider, also commented on Ain't No Other's floating out. "The horse on the lead came out turning for home, kind of swung out in front of me," Gomez said. "My horse kind of looked at him at little bit and made me wait for a second. It looked like the outside horse (Bench Points) was going to blow by me, but my horse fought back. He's going to be a nice horse." Bench Points, who returned $4.40, $2.40 and $2.10, now sports a career mark of 7-5-0-1, $278,280. The chestnut gelding won all three starts as a juvenile, including the Graduation S. and I'm Smokin S. at Del Mar. He made it a perfect four-for-four in a six-furlong optional claimer at Santa Anita on February 11, the prelude to his stretching out in the San Felipe, and he is now five-for-five in sprints. "Mission accomplished," Yakteen said. "Everything worked out well for us. Obviously, it's a reflection on the horse himself. His first work back after the rest was such an impressive effort. He really sparkled. That gave me a lot of confidence. "How can you regret a ride like that (running in Kentucky Derby prep races). It's a lot of fun and everybody enjoyed the roll. You regret getting the horse beat, but he never disgraced himself. Now we're back where he's best. We'll keep him sprinting. "We have no plans right now. We're just going to see how he comes out of the race and give him plenty of time. If we're lucky enough, we'll go the Smiling Tiger route. That was a pretty nice campaign (trainer) Jeff (Bonde) put together for him. But obviously you have to have the horse. Right now, I'm pretty excited about his prospects." Yakteen was referring to the 2010 Laz Barrera winner, Smiling Tiger (Hold That Tiger), who went on to defeat older sprinters in the Bing Crosby S. (G1) and Ancient Title S. (G1) later that season. Bred by Gary Rocks in California, Bench Points is owned by Donnie Crevier, Linda Mariani, Charles Martin and Mary Jo Zuraitis. He is the first registered foal from the unraced Free House mare Mo Chuisle, and he has an unraced two-year-old full brother named Points Offthebench. Mo Chuisle is herself a half-sister to the Grade 2-placed Visible Slew (Seattle Slew). Bench Points' second dam is Grade 3 queen Visible Gold (Deputy Minister), and his fourth dam is Grade 1 winner Alma North (Northern Dancer).
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