Point of Entry burst clear of the field turning for home and drew off with powerful strides to win the $600,000 Man o' War Stakes (gr. I) this afternoon at Belmont Park by about four or five lengths.
Ridden to victory by Jose Lezcano, Point of Entry got off to a good start and settled into the second position early on, behind an extremely slow pace of :26.10 and :52.01 set by Center Divider. Tahoe Lake was racing in third along the rail, followed by Hudson Steele, Newsdad, Game Ball, and heavily favored Treasure Beach, a European shipper from the powerful barn of Aidan O'Brien.
The slow pace continued through three-quarters of a mile in 1:16.68 and 1:40.02, with Center of Divider and Point of Entry continuing to race 1-2. Rounding the far turn, Treasure Beach began to make a sweeping bid around the far turn, and appeared to be on his way to victory. However, in the homestretch, Point of Entry blew the race wide open with a powerful fifth quarter in :22.39 seconds, which enabled him to seize command of the race and continue on unchallenged to win the eleven-furlong turf marathon in 2:13.87
Center Divider held on to second over Tahoe Lake, while Newsdad rallied to be fourth. Treasure Beach, Hudson Steele, and Game Ball completed the order of finish.
The winner is owned by Phipps Stable and trained by Shug McGaughey.
-Keelerman
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