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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