Take the Points seeks Grade 1 triple in Hollywood Derby

Take the Points (left) and Black Bear Island (right) will renew rivalry (Jim Tyrrell/Horsephotos.com) TAKE THE POINTS (Even the Score) will attempt to make it a clean sweep of the nation’s three Grade 1 events for three-year-olds on turf when he squares off against 11 rivals in Sunday’s $300,000 Hollywood Derby (G1), the highlight of the final day of the Hollywood Turf Festival. The Todd Pletcher trainee notched the Secretariat S. (G1) at Arlington Park and the Jamaica H. (G1) at Belmont Park earlier this year by a head in each, but there will be little margin for error as the 1 1/4-mile test has attracted virtually every leading specialist in the division. Following two losses to BATTLE OF HASTINGS (GB) (Royal Applause [GB]) in his first two attempts on grass, the Colonial Turf Cup (G2) and Virginia Derby (G2), Take the Points overcame a slow pace to edge BLACK BEAR ISLAND (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) in the Secretariat and prevailed by a similar margin over STRAIGHT STORY (Giant’s Causeway) in the Jamaica. Take the Points was flattered when Courageous Cat (Storm Cat), the favorite in the Jamaica who ran third, subsequently finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) to Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa). If able to work out a typical tracking trip under Edgar Prado, Take the Points should find himself in the mix once again.

Battle of Hastings has lost three straight since doubling up at Colonial
Downs, losing the Del Mar Derby (G2) and Oak Tree Derby (G2) narrowly with a
more significant margin of defeat occurring in the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1)
between those two. The Jeff Mullins charge has not run a bad one otherwise this
year, and will have the services of Garrett Gomez for the first time Sunday.

Black Bear Island, who won the Dante S. (Eng-G2) in May prior to his
importation, was out of action for two months following his second in the
Secretariat. Most recently, he was sixth in a blanket finish in an Oak Tree
overnight event in what could be viewed as a prep for this engagement.
Meanwhile, Straight Story has been the hard-luck horse of the division with four
stakes losses by a length or less this season. In addition to the Jamaica, the
dark bay fell short in the Colonial Turf Cup, Virginia Derby and Ashley T. Cole
S. for New York-breds.

THE USUAL Q. T. (Unusual Heat) is hitting his best stride at the right time.
A maiden contestant as recently as August 5, the California-bred has reeled off
four straight including the Oak Tree Derby and California Cup Mile over older
horses.

Others of note in the Hollywood Derby are Saranac S. (G3) winner AL KHALI (Medaglia
d’Oro); Calder Derby (G3) victor SAL THE BARBER (Alphabet Soup); La Jolla H.
(G2) winner METEORE (Pulpit); Hawthorne Derby (G3) runner-up SIR AL (Ire)
(Desert Prince [Ire]); Del Mar Derby (G2) third ACCLAMATION (Unusual Heat); and
Bryan Station S. (G3) runner-up RESCUE SQUAD (Dynaformer).

CONNIE AND MICHAEL (Roman Ruler), who was bet down to 9-2 in the Breeders’
Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) following an impressive debut score at Keeneland, will
try her hand at turf when facing eight others in the $100,000
Miesque
S. (G3) over a mile. The Ken McPeek filly tired to eighth in that two-turn
debut, which came on the heels of a 7 3/4-length romp going seven furlongs on
Polytrack.

The European contingent for the Miesque looks tough. IN THE SLIPS (More Than
Ready) debuts for Jeff Mullins off handicap wins at Doncaster and Pontefract,
while FULL MANDATE (Ire) (Acclamation) shows runner-up efforts in the Princess
Margaret S. (Eng-G3) at Ascot and in the lucrative Goffs Million Sprint.

Turf maiden winners WHISPERING HUSH (El Corredor), FORBIDDEN PARADISE (Ire) (Chineur)
and THE MAILET (Rock Hard Ten) are others with a shot.