Gulfstream Park: Point of Entry has easy work at Payson Park

Point of Entry, who defeated Animal Kingdom in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap to open his 2013 campaign, worked an easy half-mile in 50.40 seconds at Payson Park on Monday. Point of Entry had originally been targeting Saturday’s $5 million Sheema Classic at Meydan after his win in the Turf Handicap but those plans were changed several days after the race. Point of Entry is currently owned in partnership by the Phipps Stable and Frank Stronach.

“The owners left it up to me whether to run in Dubai, and I don’t think either one of them was kicking the ball over the fence to go,” said McGaughey. “When I first talked to Mr. Stronach, he said he wanted to be ready for the Breeders’ Cup, and without him saying I could kind of tell what his feelings were. And I was with Mr. Phipps at the end of January and he said that he wouldn’t be able to make the trip, so that pretty much made it an easy decision. And I thought our main objective is the Breeders’ Cup with him, so why take him out of the routine that worked so well last year.”

McGaughey’s first major goal this summer for Point of Entry is the Arlington Million. He is expected to make his next start next month at Keeneland in the Grade 2 Elkhorn, a race he won last year.