Points Offthebench scores in stakes debut in Bing Crosby

Donnie Crevier and Charles V. Martin's Points Offthebench held the strong

rally of sophomore Goldencents to prevail in his first stakes try in Sunday's

Grade 1, $300,250

Bing

Crosby at Del Mar. Ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Smith, the lightly-raced

four-year-old handed Tim Yakteen his first Grade 1 win as a trainer, and burst

into the top rank of the Southern California sprint scene.

The six-furlong dash on Polytrack serves as a "Win and You're In" event for

the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. Points Offthebench earned an automatic berth in

that spot, but he has yet to race on turf.

A 2 1/4-length allowance winner over Hollywood Park's Cushion Track last time

out on May 27, Points Offthebench went off as the 3-1 fourth choice in a

contentious field of six. Goldencents, freshened since his unplaced efforts in

the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, was favored at 9-5 on the cutback in trip, and

his first tilt against older horses.

Veteran speedster Comma to the Top shot to the front in the opening strides,

but Coach Bob, the 33-1 longest shot on the board, scrambled to take over. As

Coach Bob zipped an opening quarter in :22 2/5, Comma to the Top forced the

issue, with the 5-2 second choice Jimmy Creed also in the scrum. Points

Offthebench was striding easily in a close fourth, followed by the

newly-blinkered Goldencents, and the trailing Majestic City.

Turning for home, Comma to the Top and Jimmy Creed fanned out alongside Coach

Bob through a half in :44 4/5. Points Offthebench was moving best of all as he

effortlessly joined them wider out. It was only a matter of time before he

kicked clear, and when Smith set him down, he brushed them aside when reaching

the five-furlong split in :56 4/5.

After Points Offthebench made his good-looking move, Goldencents launched his

challenge. The three-year-old generated plenty of momentum, but his older rival

responded and found more. Points Offthebench fended him off by a head at the

wire in a final time of 1:09.

"My first Grade 1 winner," Yakteen said. "It's been a long time, at least

eight years (since he started training on his own). I didn't think I'd have to

wait this long.

"He was training great, we drew a great post (6) and he was ready for the

task, so I felt confident going into the race. He ran huge and Mike (Smith) gave

him a great ride."

"Tim told me two things about him beforehand," Smith revealed. "He said don't

make the lead too early with him and he'll need some help changing leads. This

horse is still learning and I had to help him switch (leads) in the stretch.

"I made that lead and I knew that (Goldencents) was coming. But my horse dug

back in. He's a good horse; he really is."

Goldencents' rider, Kevin Krigger, critiqued his trip.

"I didn't have the best of trips out there," Krigger said. "When we turned

for home, they were fanned out in front of me and I had to make a choice. I

thought for a second about trying to go down inside, but then I went out. I

didn't want to get stopped in a race like this. He fired for me and ran really

well. I think we've got to be happy with his race. It was a good one."

There was a 3 1/4-length gap back to third-placer Jimmy Creed. Majestic City

was along for fourth, passing his tired foes Comma to the Top and Coach Bob.

Points Offthebench, who rewarded his fans with a win mutuel of $8.80, nearly

doubled his bankroll to $364,940 from a fine record of 7-5-1-1. The dark bay 

gelding raced twice at Del Mar as a juvenile, both in California-bred maidens.

He finished third in his premiere and broke through promptly next out, but was

sidelined for six months. Points Offthebench picked up right where he left off

by capturing his sophomore bow versus state-breds at Santa Anita in February

2012, only to be shelved for the remainder of the season.

In his comeback from a nearly year-long absence on February 2, Points

Offthebench just missed by a half-length to Italian Rules in an open-company

allowance at Santa Anita. He moved forward off that tightener to win a similar

event at the same venue April 6, followed up with a second-level allowance score

at Hollywood, and has now won three in a row.

Bred by Gary Rocks, Points Offthebench is a full brother to Grade 3 winner

Bench Points. Both are by Benchmark and out of the unraced Free House mare Mo

Chuisle, herself a half-sister to Grade 2-placed Visible Slew. Points

Offthebench's second dam is Grade 3 victress Visible Gold, and his fourth dam is

Grade 1 star Alma North. He hails from the same female line as current sophomore

Iotapa, the winner of the May 19 Railbird who has also placed in the April 6

Santa Anita Oaks, June 22 Hollywood Oaks and last Sunday's San Clemente on the

Del Mar turf.

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