Point of Entry topples Animal Kingdom in GP Turf

As expected, Salto bustled out to the early lead and carved out splits of :25

and :50 2/5 on the firm turf. Point of Entry was perfectly spotted in second by

regular rider Johnny Velazquez, while Animal Kingdom was reserved farther back

by new partner Joel Rosario.

Down the backstretch, Animal Kingdom improved his position, and when Salto

left an inviting opening along the rail, the Derby hero suddenly burst through

in an unexpected move. The tempo now ratcheting up considerably through six

furlongs in 1:13 1/5, Animal Kingdom found himself in a tussle with Salto

rounding the far turn. Point of Entry was hovering in a close third, but a

patient Velazquez had not yet set him down in earnest.

Cornering for home, Animal Kingdom spat out Salto and kicked clear briefly.

Then Point of Entry attacked, and the eagerly-anticipated battle was joined.

Animal Kingdom tried to dig in, the pair appeared to brush, and Animal Kingdom

switched to his left lead. Adding piquancy to the battle was the fact that

Velazquez used to ride Animal Kingdom, most famously in his Derby victory, but

now was on his leading opponent.

Point of Entry was getting the upper hand at the eighth-pole, reaching the

mile in 1:35 3/5, and he forged clear to win his fourth Grade 1 title by 1 1/4

lengths. After zipping his final eighth in an impressive :11 1/5, the handsome

bay stopped the teletimer in 1:47 and returned $6.20, $2.60 and $2.10.

"There was no speed," Velazquez recapped. "We went to the middle of the

track, and I know Animal Kingdom well. If he would have waited behind me, he

probably would have beaten me from the quarter-pole home. He made a move so big

that he changed his style to my horse's style, so it worked out to my advantage.

I had my horse running so much by the time we got to the three-sixteenths pole,

my horse got his momentum going. It worked out for us."

"It was quite a race," McGaughey said. "We had our tactics. I figured (Salto)

would go to the lead and I was hoping we'd break good and be laying second to

him without pressing too much and try to make Animal Kingdom commit a little

early. It was kind of fun to watch, even though I was leaning a little bit

trying to get him in front going around the turn.

"Joel made a split-second decision and I'm not going to second guess him for

it. If he won he would have looked like a hero."

Animal Kingdom held second by 1 1/4 lengths from Unbridled Command, who raced

fairly evenly in third. There was a 6 1/4-length gap back to Salto, followed by

Where's the Baby and Film Making.

Both of the top two were auditioning for potential engagements in Dubai March

30 -- Point of Entry is under consideration for the Group 1 Sheema Classic at

about 1 1/2 miles on turf, and Animal Kingdom is bound for the Group 1 Dubai

World Cup on Tapeta.

The well-bred Point of Entry, a half-brother to ill-fated multiple Grade 1

star Pine Island, now brandishes a record of 16-8-3-1, $2,014,490. He flashed

talent at three, romping in an off-the-turf maiden at Belmont by 15 1/2 lengths,

and finishing fourth in the Curlin on Saratoga's main track. McGaughey exercised

his trademark patience by subsequently keeping him to allowance company on turf.

Point of Entry began to come around with an entry-level allowance score at

Gulfstream Park in December 2011, then wound up an excusable fourth at the same

venue in February.

The four-year-old has since come into his own with a course record-setting

coup at Keeneland on April 12, and wheeled back 15 days later to take the Grade

2 Elkhorn. Freshened in the interim, Point of Entry returned to dominate the

Grade 1 Man o' War by 3 1/2 lengths on July 14. He was similarly explosive in

the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Invitational on August 18 at Saratoga, where he ran off

by four lengths.

Point of Entry extended his skein to five with a professional display in the

Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational, despite not really relishing the

boggy ground. His Breeders' Cup chances were compromised by his losing tactical

position right at the start, and although he finished like the proverbial

freight train, the wire came in time for Little Mike.

The Kentucky-bred is out of the winning Seeking the Gold mare Matlacha Pass,

herself a full sister to Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Pleasant Home and multiple

Grade 2 winner Country Hideaway, the dam of multiple Grade 2 vixen Boca Grande

and Grade 3 victor Vacation. Matlacha Pass is also a full sister to Home Sweet

Home, who has produced Japanese Grade 3 scorer Birdie Birdie.

Point of Entry's third dam is multiple Grade 1 winner Maplejinsky, who

produced Hall of Famer Sky Beauty. His fourth dam is champion sprinter Gold

Beauty, who also produced multiple European highweight Dayjur.

This family is also responsible for multiple Grade 1 winner Tale of Ekati and

recent Grade 1 CashCall Futurity star Violence, a prominent Kentucky Derby

contender.

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