South American Star Indy Point Joins Mandella

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By Michael Burns

Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, who campaigned Argentine champions Gentlemen and Refinado Tom in North America, has added that country´s leading 3-year-old colt, Indy Point, to his Southern California stable.

Indy Point, a son of Indygo Shiner, captured two-thirds of the Argentine Triple Crown last season with victories in the Gran Premio Nacional and Jockey Club. He arrived in good order two weeks ago at Mandella´s barn at Santa Anita Park ahead of his tilt at U.S. racing for owners Patricia and Felipe Lovisi.

"The horse is doing real well; he´s been here just a few weeks and is just settling in and coming around," said Mandella.

The chestnut colt, who won five of 12 career starts in his native land, also annexed the Gran Premio Estrellas Juvenile (Arg-I) at 2. He was runner-up in both the Gran Premio Polla de Potrillos (Arg-I, Argentine Two Thousand Guineas) and the prestigious Carlos Pellegrini (Arg-I) as the favorite in South America´s signature race last December.

Mandella trained Argentine dual classic winner Gentlemen to win the 1997 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I), Pacific Classic (gr. I) and Pimlico Special Handicap (gr. I), one of several South American talents he has been instrumental in developing into top-level winners.