Sometimes good things come to those who wait. Such appears to be the case for the Phipps Stable, whose homebred Point of Entry secured his first grade I win with his victory July 14 in the Man o' War Stakes (gr. IT). Now riding a three-race winning streak, the bay 4-year-old overcame a slow pace with a strong finishing kick in the neighborhood of :33 3/5 for his final three furlongs.
Late maturation and a liking for turf are nothing new for the progeny of Dynaformer, who was also represented July 14 by new stakes winners in Robert G. Dicks Memorial Stakes (gr. IIIT), Starformer (a 4-year-old), and in the Stars & Stripes Stakes (gr. IIIT) with Ioya Bigtime (a 5-year-old).
While Dynaformer did sire 2008 European champion juvenile filly Rainbow View and the high-class English juvenile filly White Moonstone (winner of the English group I Meon Valley Stud Fillies’ Mile in 2010), as well as top dirt performers Barbaro (2006 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands, gr. I) and Perfect Drift (2003 Stephen Foster Handicap, gr. I), the bulk of his offspring typically have needed until their 3-year-old seasons to really start coming to hand, and most have shown a preference for grass and distance. As a result, Dynaformer (who died in April) was one of the few American-based sires with significant commercial appeal for European buyers, having sired 2007 Ladbrokes St. Leger (Eng-I) winner Lucarno, 2009 IDEE Deutsches Derby (Ger-I) winner Wiener Walzer, and 2011 QIPCO One Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) and Darley Irish Oaks (Ire-I) winner Blue Bunting.
As noted in the Nov. 21, 2011 Mahubah’s Corner column “Americain International” when discussing the stallion potential of Dynaformer's champion son Americain , Dynaformer's best hopes of continuing his male line have been abroad rather than in the United States; excepting the ill-fated Barbaro and grade I winner Purim (who died in January), his best entire sons have raced abroad. But Point of Entry may change that. Granted, as a late-maturing, staying turf runner, he does not seem the type that would have much initial appeal in the American commercial market. But as a Phipps homebred, he may have better opportunities provided by his connections than most other runners of his type.
If that is the case, Point of Entry certainly has the pedigree to take full advantage of those opportunities. A half brother to multiple grade I winner Pine Island (by Arch , a grandson of Dynaformer's sire Roberto), he is out of the winning Seeking the Gold mare Matlacha Pass. She, in turn, is a full sister to 2005 Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) winner Pleasant Home and to multiple grade II winner Country Hideaway, dam of multiple grade II winner Boca Grande (by A.P. Indy) and 2009 Hanshin Cup Handicap (gr. III) winner Vacation (by Dynaformer).
Matlacha Pass and her siblings are out of the unraced Pleasant Colony mare Our Country Place. Said to have been highly regarded as a youngster, Our Country Place is a half sister to 1994 champion older female Sky Beauty (by Blushing Groom). Outstanding even among modern champions, Sky Beauty won nine grade I events during her career under weights up to 130 pounds, including the 1993 Triple Tiara, and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame in 2011.
Our Country Place and Sky Beauty are out of multiple grade I winner Maplejinsky (by Nijinsky II), whose aptitude for the nine- to 10-furlong range was in sharp contrast to her half brother Dayjur (by Danzig). The champion sprinter, champion 3-year-old male, and Horse of the Year in England in 1990, Dayjur mirrored the speed of his dam, 1982 U.S. champion sprinter Gold Beauty, who in turn was very much the daughter of her sire Mr. Prospector. The winner of eight of her 12 starts, Gold Beauty emulated the feat of two-time sprint champion Ta Wee in defeating older males as a 3-year-old in the Fall Highweight Handicap (gr. II). She lived to produce only five foals (Maplejinksy and Dayjur were her first two) but is also the dam of multiple stakes producer Elhasna (by Danzig).
Gold Beauty is one of five stakes winners produced from Stick to Beauty, a stakes-winning daughter of the Round Table horse Illustrious and the unraced Hail to Reason mare Hail to Beauty. The female line traces back to Maid Of Erin, a half sister to the good speedster and speed sire Voter and dam of the excellent sire Celt, who became one of the foundations for Claiborne Farm.
The Phipps family has long had a friendly and productive association with Claiborne, which has stood many a Phipps homebred, among them Bold Ruler (bred by Wheatley Stable, the nom de course of Ogden Phipps' mother Gladys and her brother Ogden Livingston Mills), Buckpasser, Reviewer, Private Account, Seeking the Gold, and Easy Goer. Whether Point of Entry joins that list has yet to be seen, but on pedigree he might well suit speedy daughters and granddaughters of A.P. Indy as well as mares carrying Blushing Groom and Danzig. As for performance, he now looks like a rising star in the turf division. With the Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes (gr. IT) penciled in next on his dance card, he appears on course for a season-ending appearance in the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) and a chance at an Eclipse Award as champion turf male.
