Point of Entry, Little Mike square off in Joe Hirsch Turf Classic

Point of Entry seeks his third Grade 1 in succession Saturday’s Turf Classic (Jessie Holmes/EquiSport Photos)

Point of Entry can solidify his present status as the nation’s leading
long-distance turf performer with a victory in Saturday’s Grade 1, $600,000
Joe
Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational. The 1 1/2-mile fixture over Belmont Park’s
Widener course came up light compared to other stakes on Super Saturday with
only six names dropped in the entry box.

A homebred campaigned by Jockey Club chairman “Dinny” Phipps, Point of Entry
has been a pleasant surprise this season. Eligible for a second-level allowance
on January 1, the four-year-old Dynaformer colt passed that condition at
Keeneland in April before ripping off consecutive wins in the Grade 2 Elkhorn,
Grade 1 Man o’ War and Grade 1 Sword Dancer Invitational. The latter, his most
impressive triumph of the stakes trio, was accomplished with four lengths to
spare over his closest rival.

A victory Saturday would also help Point of Entry’s chances in the Eclipse
Award race for champion turf male, perhaps giving him enough quality wins to
offset a potential loss to a European invader in the upcoming Grade 1 Breeders’
Cup Turf at Santa Anita.

Little Mike, whose upset scores in the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic
and Grade 1 Arlington Million has put him in the championship discussion as
well, is the main threat to Point of Entry, both literally and tactically. The
Dale Romans charge appears to be the lone speed on paper, and did well to win on
uncontested leads at Churchill Downs and Arlington Park. However, the gelding,
who established himself as an accomplished miler before this season, has never
raced beyond 1 1/4 miles.

I’m a Dreamer prevailed following a tussle in the Beverly D. in her U.S. debut (Four Footed Fotos)

A more exciting betting race can be found in the Grade 1, $600,000
Flower
Bowl Invitational. The 1 1/4-mile test on the inner turf serves as a prep
for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

On paper, the Flower Bowl is likely to be dominated by Europeans. Leading the
charge is I’m a Dreamer, who registered a 6-1 upset of the Grade 1 Beverly D. at
Arlington Park in a tight photo. Also making their second starts on U.S. soil
are Dream Peace, the French Group 2 winner who ran a second to the now-retired
Winter Memories in the Grade 1 Diana at Saratoga, and Group 1 veteran Nahrain,
who has been a disappointment this term following her close second in last
fall’s Filly & Mare Turf at Churchill Downs.

Grade 1 veteran Zagora leads the U.S. contingent. Winner of the Diana last
season, the Chad Brown trainee has added the Grade 3 Endeavour, Grade 3
Hillsborough, Grade 3 Gallorette Handicap and Grade 2 Ballston Spa Handicap to
her ledger this year. Whether she can be effective at 10 furlongs against this
kind of company remains to be seen.

“She can
go 1 1/4 miles,” Brown said. “She’s done it over in Europe, she’s done it here.
The question is, can she run her best race at 1 1/4 miles? Is she a Grade 1
horse at 1 1/4 miles?…I think she’s
absolutely in career form right now, physically, so I’m willing to try 1 1/4
miles again because she is doing so well.”