Gus-May-Fer’s homebred Indy Point left his bad Arlington Million memory well
behind him with a blistering victory in Sunday’s Grade 2, $151,750
John
Henry Turf Championship in near course record-equaling time at Santa Anita.
Perfectly ridden by the white-hot Gary Stevens, the Richard Mandella charge
exploded from off the pace to finish 1 1/4 firm-turf miles in 1:57.47, only .31
off the mark of 1:57.16 set by Red Giant here in 2008, and catapulted himself
into the Breeders’ Cup Turf picture.
A multiple Group 1 star in Argentina, Indy Point had likewise approached a
course record in his U.S. debut in the July 24 Wickerr at Del Mar. The chestnut
son of Indygo Shiner blazed a mile in 1:32.74 that day, within shouting distance
of Obviously’s standard of 1:32.10. He never showed up as the 5-2 favorite in
the August 17 Arlington Million, however, trudging home in an completely
uncharacteristic last of 13. Bettors kept faith with him on Sunday, and the 2-1
favorite did not let his fans down.
When the gate opened, Teaks North flew out to the early lead, but defending
champion Slim Shadey took over passing the stands for the first time. After an
opening quarter in :23 3/5, Slim Shadey went on to establish fractions of :47
1/5 and 1:11. Teaks North continued to race prominently in second, with Tale of
a Champion and Old Time Hockey in the next flight. Indy Point was happily
settled in sixth, a little better than midpack.
On the far turn, as Teaks North turned up the heat on Slim Shadey through a
mile in 1:34 1/5, Indy Point commenced a good-looking move. Teaks North was
getting the better of Slim Shadey in upper stretch, but wider out, Indy Point
was in full flight. Overwhelming the pace factors in a few strides, the favorite
kicked 1 1/4 lengths clear and furnished a win payout of $6.
The late-running Vagabond Shoes got up for second, three-quarters of a length
ahead of Lucayan, who rallied furiously from far back to grab third. The
placegetters had just finished one-two in the August 24 Del Mar Handicap, giving
a solid look to the form.
Old Time Hockey kept on resolutely to deny Teaks North of fourth by a nose.
Next came Slim Shadey, Kettle Corn, Holding Glory, Irish Surf, Tale of a
Champion, Code of Conduct and Affrettando. Two were scratched after running in
different spots — Soi Phet, who was third in Saturday’s Awesome Again on the
main track, and Huntsville, who was 10th in Friday’s Eddie D. on the downhill
course.
“(Indy Point) trained well or I wouldn’t have run him (today),” Mandella
said. “He ran like did at Del Mar. It was terrific.
“He (Stevens) had a lot of horse — no sense being tricky,” the Hall of Fame
trainer observed about taking the overland route. “Just get the job done, and
Gary did a great job, and it’s on to the Breeders’ Cup Turf.”
“I can’t say that we had a plan,” Stevens said. “He’s a strong-willed horse,
and we kinda out-thought ourselves in the Arlington Million. Today, I just threw
his head away from there and let him run free with a long rein.”
Stevens also spoke of his terrific weekend, highlighted by his four-timer
Saturday and his son’s first win as a trainer.
“My son (T.C.) won a race last night at Churchill and that was really
special,” the Hall of Famer said. “My mom had a stroke last Monday though, and
that’s really put everything in perspective. I’ve just been trying to have fun,
going fishing and just keeping everything in perspective.
“I didn’t think in my wildest dreams though, that I’d have the kind of horses
I’ve had this weekend — Mucho Macho Man (winner of the Awesome Again), Beholder
(winner of the Zenyatta), Marketing Mix (the near-miss runner-up in the Rodeo
Drive), this horse — it’s unbelievable.”
Indy Point sports a mark of 15-7-4-3, $659,061, reflecting high-class
versatility on dirt and turf. As a juvenile, he raced exclusively on dirt. Indy
Point just missed in his stakes debut in the Pedro Goenaga, and finished a
distant third in the Asociacion de Proprietarios de Caballos de Carrera de
Buenos Aires, before scoring a Group 1 breakthrough in the Gran Premio Estrellas
Juvenile. His first two outings at three were also on dirt — a victory in the
Miguel Cane and a close second in the Gran Premio Polla de Potrillos (Argentine
Two Thousand Guineas).
Switched to turf for last October’s Jockey Club 130 Aniversario, Indy Point
notched another Group 1 tally. He was just as convincing back on dirt for the
November 10 Gran Premio Nacional (Argentine Derby), his third Group 1 laurel.
Following a runner-up effort in the December 15 Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini on
turf, the South American “Arc,” he left his homeland for Southern California.
Indy Point races for breeder Felipe Lovisi, whose nom de course is Gus-May-Fer.
Racing Manager John Fulton was thrilled to see the four-year-old colt back at
his best.
“After what happened in Chicago, it’s great to be back on track,” Fulton
said. “We always had confidence in this horse. He’s never run a bad race. After
his debut in this country, we wanted to go (to the Arlington Million). He was
favored and he deserved to be, as we’ve seen today. But after what happened it
puts a little fear in your heart.
“The horse has trained fantastic since then, and when I got here I thought
‘this horse could not be better.’ It’s like they say in Argentina ‘Diez puntos!’
or ’10 points’ meaning you can’t get any better. Richard had him ready, Gary
knows this horse now, and we’re on our way.
“He’s eligible for Breeders’ Cup,” Fulton added. “I knew this horse was
training like the real deal, so I talked with Felipe and told him we have to
nominate before he runs, so he put the money on the table with good confidence
and faith in the horse and now it’s proven to have been a wise decision, so
he’ll go in the BC Turf.
“With the kind of race he ran today and the way he relaxed — he’s run
further than a mile and half. He won the Derby in Argentina that was a mile and
nine-sixteenths, so the distance will be no problem.”
Out of the Parade Marshal mare Red Point, Indy Point hails from a female line
that keeps churning out South American Group performers. His relatives include
Group 1 winners Galactos and Bat Recio, and most notably Refinado Tom, a former
Argentinean Horse of the Year who romped in the 1997 Native Diver at Hollywood
for none other than Mandella.
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