Point of Entry approaching the wire of the Sword Dancer
Favored Point of Entry overcame some traffic trouble before rolling to a four-length victory in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Saturday afternoon.
Trained by Shug McGaughey and ridden by John Velazquez, Point of Entry completed the race in 2:26.40 and paid $4.80. It was his fourth straight victory and fifth in his last six starts.
John Velazquez and Shug McGaughey
“[John] said a horse about fell and he had to go back to the inside," McGaughey said. "When he found the seam at the quarter pole, it was over. I was very pleased with the trip. I told him if the pace is fast, you’ll know where you’ll be, and if it’s slow, he’ll take you where he wants to go.”Velazquez sat a stalking trip and as Turbo Compressor carried the field of nine through early fractions of :24.89, :49.45, 1:13.77 and 1:37.90. Point of Entry responded at the quarter pole when Velazquez took him to the outside.
“I was keeping him behind horses. I wanted him to be covered up," Velazquez said. "He was really strong the whole way. By the half-mile pole I pointed him outside, and the horse who was laying third 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.”