Point of Entry captures Manhattan Handicap
Elmont, NY (Sports Network) – Odds-on favorite Point of Entry, in just his second start of the year, rallied through the stretch to win Saturday’s $500,000 Manhattan Handicap at Belmont Park.
Trained by Shug McGaughey and ridden by John Velazquez, Point of Entry took the lead with 100 yards to run and was able to post 1 1/2-length victory over 5-1 second pick Optimizer.
Owned by Phipps Stable, co-owner of Kentucky Derby winner Orb, Point of Entry covered the 1 1/4 miles on a yielding turf course in 2:02.55.
Setting the pace in the Manhattan was 23-1 longshot Plainview. Racing second was Optimizer with the 1-2 favorite Point of Entry far back in the eight-horse field.
“I wanted to be far back just because of how the ground is,” Velazquez revealed after the win.
Around the final turn, Optimizer and jockey Joel Rosario took the lead as Point of Entry moved into second from the outside. These two battled as they entered the stretch.
At the top of the stretch. Point of Entry and Optimizer were joined by Real Solution, the 8-1 fourth choice. These three drove together toward the wire with Point of Entry finding something extra nearing the finish.
Real Solution finished third followed by Finnegans Wake, Twilight Eclipse, Plainview, Side Road and Bombaguia. Quick Casablanca and Speaking of Which were early scratches.
Point of Entry gave his jockey the first Manhattan Handicap win of his career and the 4,997th overall. The win was worth $300,000 as the 5-year-old posted his seventh win in the last eight starts.
Point of Entry has earned $2,314,490 in 17 lifetime starts and nine wins. He began 2013 by winning the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap over Animal Kingdom.
Last year he won five of seven starts, including the Man o’War, Sword Dancer and Turf Classic. Point of Entry finished second by a half-length in the Breeders’ Cup Turf to Little Mike.
Point of Entry paid $3.10, $2.50 and $2.10. Optimizer returned $3.90 and $3.00, and Real Solution paid $4.10 to show.
Categorized in: Horses