Indy makes emphatic Point in John Henry

Gus-May-Fer's homebred Indy Point left his bad Arlington Million memory well

behind him with a blistering victory in Sunday's Grade 2, $151,750

John

Henry Turf Championship in near course record-equaling time at Santa Anita.

Perfectly ridden by the white-hot Gary Stevens, the Richard Mandella charge

exploded from off the pace to finish 1 1/4 firm-turf miles in 1:57.47, only .31

off the mark of 1:57.16 set by Red Giant here in 2008, and catapulted himself

into the Breeders' Cup Turf picture.

A multiple Group 1 star in Argentina, Indy Point had likewise approached a

course record in his U.S. debut in the July 24 Wickerr at Del Mar. The chestnut

son of Indygo Shiner blazed a mile in 1:32.74 that day, within shouting distance

of Obviously's standard of 1:32.10. He never showed up as the 5-2 favorite in

the August 17 Arlington Million, however, trudging home in an completely

uncharacteristic last of 13. Bettors kept faith with him on Sunday, and the 2-1

favorite did not let his fans down.

When the gate opened, Teaks North flew out to the early lead, but defending

champion Slim Shadey took over passing the stands for the first time. After an

opening quarter in :23 3/5, Slim Shadey went on to establish fractions of :47

1/5 and 1:11. Teaks North continued to race prominently in second, with Tale of

a Champion and Old Time Hockey in the next flight. Indy Point was happily

settled in sixth, a little better than midpack.

On the far turn, as Teaks North turned up the heat on Slim Shadey through a

mile in 1:34 1/5, Indy Point commenced a good-looking move. Teaks North was

getting the better of Slim Shadey in upper stretch, but wider out, Indy Point

was in full flight. Overwhelming the pace factors in a few strides, the favorite

kicked 1 1/4 lengths clear and furnished a win payout of $6.

The late-running Vagabond Shoes got up for second, three-quarters of a length

ahead of Lucayan, who rallied furiously from far back to grab third. The

placegetters had just finished one-two in the August 24 Del Mar Handicap, giving

a solid look to the form.

Old Time Hockey kept on resolutely to deny Teaks North of fourth by a nose.

Next came Slim Shadey, Kettle Corn, Holding Glory, Irish Surf, Tale of a

Champion, Code of Conduct and Affrettando. Two were scratched after running in

different spots -- Soi Phet, who was third in Saturday's Awesome Again on the

main track, and Huntsville, who was 10th in Friday's Eddie D. on the downhill

course.

"(Indy Point) trained well or I wouldn't have run him (today)," Mandella

said. "He ran like did at Del Mar. It was terrific.

"He (Stevens) had a lot of horse -- no sense being tricky," the Hall of Fame

trainer observed about taking the overland route. "Just get the job done, and

Gary did a great job, and it's on to the Breeders' Cup Turf."

"I can't say that we had a plan," Stevens said. "He's a strong-willed horse,

and we kinda out-thought ourselves in the Arlington Million. Today, I just threw

his head away from there and let him run free with a long rein."

Stevens also spoke of his terrific weekend, highlighted by his four-timer

Saturday and his son's first win as a trainer.

"My son (T.C.) won a race last night at Churchill and that was really

special," the Hall of Famer said. "My mom had a stroke last Monday though, and

that's really put everything in perspective. I've just been trying to have fun,

going fishing and just keeping everything in perspective.

"I didn't think in my wildest dreams though, that I'd have the kind of horses

I've had this weekend -- Mucho Macho Man (winner of the Awesome Again), Beholder

(winner of the Zenyatta), Marketing Mix (the near-miss runner-up in the Rodeo

Drive), this horse -- it's unbelievable."

Indy Point sports a mark of 15-7-4-3, $659,061, reflecting high-class

versatility on dirt and turf. As a juvenile, he raced exclusively on dirt. Indy

Point just missed in his stakes debut in the Pedro Goenaga, and finished a

distant third in the Asociacion de Proprietarios de Caballos de Carrera de

Buenos Aires, before scoring a Group 1 breakthrough in the Gran Premio Estrellas

Juvenile. His first two outings at three were also on dirt -- a victory in the

Miguel Cane and a close second in the Gran Premio Polla de Potrillos (Argentine

Two Thousand Guineas).

Switched to turf for last October's Jockey Club 130 Aniversario, Indy Point

notched another Group 1 tally. He was just as convincing back on dirt for the

November 10 Gran Premio Nacional (Argentine Derby), his third Group 1 laurel.

Following a runner-up effort in the December 15 Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini on

turf, the South American "Arc," he left his homeland for Southern California.

Indy Point races for breeder Felipe Lovisi, whose nom de course is Gus-May-Fer.

Racing Manager John Fulton was thrilled to see the four-year-old colt back at

his best.

"After what happened in Chicago, it's great to be back on track," Fulton

said. "We always had confidence in this horse. He's never run a bad race. After

his debut in this country, we wanted to go (to the Arlington Million). He was

favored and he deserved to be, as we've seen today. But after what happened it

puts a little fear in your heart.

"The horse has trained fantastic since then, and when I got here I thought

'this horse could not be better.' It's like they say in Argentina 'Diez puntos!'

or '10 points' meaning you can't get any better. Richard had him ready, Gary

knows this horse now, and we're on our way.

"He's eligible for Breeders' Cup," Fulton added. "I knew this horse was

training like the real deal, so I talked with Felipe and told him we have to

nominate before he runs, so he put the money on the table with good confidence

and faith in the horse and now it's proven to have been a wise decision, so

he'll go in the BC Turf.

"With the kind of race he ran today and the way he relaxed -- he's run

further than a mile and half. He won the Derby in Argentina that was a mile and

nine-sixteenths, so the distance will be no problem."

Out of the Parade Marshal mare Red Point, Indy Point hails from a female line

that keeps churning out South American Group performers. His relatives include

Group 1 winners Galactos and Bat Recio, and most notably Refinado Tom, a former

Argentinean Horse of the Year who romped in the 1997 Native Diver at Hollywood

for none other than Mandella.

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