Point of Entry scores decisively in Sword Dancer

Point of Entry added the Sword Dancer to earlier wins in the Man o’ War and Elkhorn (Jessie Holmes/EquiSport Photos) Phipps Stable’s homebred Point of Entry ran away from the field in Saturday’s Grade 1, $600,000 Sword Dancer Invitational at Saratoga, and in the process firmly establishing himself as the country’s leading 1 1/2-mile turf performer. Tracking no more than two lengths off a pace set by second choice Turbo Compressor, Point of Entry stepped on the gas in the final quarter-mile and ultimately opened up a four-length lead passing the wire. The final time for 12 furlongs on the firm inner turf was 2:26 2/5. As the 7-5 favorite, Point of Entry returned $4.80, $2.90 and $2.30. “He was really strong the whole way,” winning jockey John Velazquez said. “By the half-mile pole I pointed him outside, and the horse who was laying third (Newsdad) took a bad step, so I had to go back inside with him. But, I didn’t want to make a move before the quarter pole anyway, so it worked out. He was ready to go any time I let him go. Incredible.” The disappointment of the race was Turbo Compressor, recent winner of the Grade 1 United Nations and the Colonial Turf Cup. Setting a measured pace of :24 4/5, :49 2/5, 1:13 3/5, 1:37 4/5 and 2:02, Turbo Compressor came under heavy pressure around the final turn, gave up willingly in the stretch and was not persevered with in the final furlong. He finished last in the field of nine.

Rallying from off the pace for the place was 7-1 chance Al Khali,
third-placer finisher in the last two editions of the Sword Dancer, who had 2
1/2 lengths on Brilliant Speed at the line. Completing the order of finish were
Newsdad, Lake Tahoe, Hailstone, Center Divider, Game Ball and Turbo Compressor.

The well-bred Point of Entry, trained by Shug McGaughey, is a half-brother to
ill-fated multiple Grade 1 star Pine Island. The Dynaformer colt 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 last December, 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 score a new
career high in the Grade 1 Man o’ War in his most recent start. His record now
stands at 13-6-2-1, $934,490.

The Kentucky-bred is out of the winning Seeking the Gold mare Matlacha Pass,
herself a full sister to Grade 1 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.

Point of Entry’s third dam is 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.

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