Belmont Park: Point of Entry to have surgery on 'slight' condylar fracture

ELMONT, N.Y. – Point of Entry emerged from his victory in the Manhattan Handicap on Saturday at Belmont Park with a “slight condylar fracture” of his left hind cannon bone, trainer Shug McGaughey said Sunday morning at Belmont.

McGaughey said Point of Entry was to leave Sunday for the Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., where noted surgeon Dr. Larry Bramlage would perform surgery this week. McGaughey said he believed only one screw might be needed to close the fracture, leading to hope that Point of Entry could return to racing.

Asked if he thought Point of Entry could even make the Breeders’ Cup in November, McGaughey said, “That’s what I’m hoping,” adding that he would know more about the horse’s future after the operation.

McGaughey said Point of Entry cooled out fine after the race Saturday, but that the ankle was swollen Sunday, and X-rays revealed the fracture.

Point of Entry’s win Saturday was his fifth in a Grade 1 race. He has won seven times in his last eight starts, the lone loss in that streak coming when he was second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf to Little Mike last fall at Santa Anita.

Point of Entry carried 124 pounds over a yielding course Saturday to win the 1 1/4-mile Manhattan in his first start since February.

“He ran a great race,” McGaughey said. “He’s a really good horse.”

Point of Entry, 5, has won nine times in 17 starts. He is owned by the Phipps Stable and Frank Stronach.