Bench Points could take Yakteen back to Churchill

Last updated: 3/6/11 5:35 PM

Bench Points will attempt to keep his record perfect in the San Felipe
(Benoit Photos)

Unbeaten, untested and unsung. All apply to the the undefeated
California-bred BENCH POINTS (Benchmark), who will show whether or not
he’s Triple Crown material when he seeks his fifth victory next Saturday
in the San Felipe S. (G2) going 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita. The race is
an important steppingstone to the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 9.

Bench Points already has victories in two stakes races at Del Mar as
a two-year-old, the Graduation and I’m Smokin, and was an impressive
allowance winner at Santa Anita on February 11. But the San Felipe would
be his first race around two turns and will determine whether he embarks
further on the Triple Crown trail. He has no graded earnings to date.

The chestnut gelding is trained by Tim Yakteen, who earned his racing
spurs from icons Charlie Whittingham and Bob Baffert before going on his
own at the age of 40 in September of 2004.

“He’s coming along well,” Yakteen said. “He’s been working great, and
the San Felipe will tell us what direction we’re going to be taking this
year. That’s going to be a very competitive race, but at this point we
need to find out whether our horse can route, whether we’re going to
dream in 3D or whether we’re just going to stay in color.”

Bench Points worked six furlongs at Santa Anita Saturday in 1:11 3/4, in
company with the Janet Armstrong-trained Skid (Malabar Gold), who was clocked in
1:12 2/5.

“It was a great drill,” Yakteen said. “He sat off a couple lengths behind his
company, cruised up to him and finished nice. It was everything we’re looking
for.”

If he makes it to the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 7, it would not be the first
Run for the Roses experience for Yakteen. He spent years under the tutelage of
Whittingham, who at 76 became the oldest trainer to win the Derby in 1989 with
Sunday Silence, and later with three-time Derby winner Baffert.

“I was at the Derby with Charlie in 1996 when he had Corker, a colt out of
Bottle Top and a half-brother to Strodes Creek, who was second in the 1994
Derby,” Yakteen recalled. “Eddie D. rode Strodes Creek and we probably should
have won the race, but Laffit (Pincay Jr. on Valiant Nature, who finished 13th
of 14) blew the turn and Eddie had to move out of the way or he was going to
drop Laffit.”