Keeneland notes: Point of Entry pointed for Woodford Reserve on Kentucky Derby undercard

Point of Entry, the turf standout trained by Shug McGaughey, had his first work since moving north from Florida, breezing a half-mile Monday in 48.20 seconds over the Keeneland Polytrack.

McGaughey is pointing Point of Entry to the next major race in the older-horse turf division, the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic on the Kentucky Derby undercard. Point of Entry, an earner of more than $2 million, defeated Animal Kingdom in winning his only start this year, the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap on Feb. 9.

Gathering headed up

Emollient, the runaway winner of the Grade 1 Ashland, wasn’t the only filly to have the huge crowd buzzing here last Saturday.

A 4-year-old named Gathering had a similar effect, overcoming a terrible start to win a first-level turf-route allowance by 3 1/4 lengths and galloping out far in front under Rosie Napravnik.
“We were delighted, of course,” said Jonathan Sheppard, the Hall of Fame trainer who was entrusted with the care of Gathering after longtime client George Strawbridge Jr. turned the filly over to him this winter. “The filly had been training steadily, but not spectacularly. I thought the level of competition was a reason for confidence. It all actually worked out quite well.”

Sheppard said Gathering, a homebred by Street Cry, probably will try graded stakes company next out in either the Bewitch here April 25 or the Churchill Downs Distaff Mile on the May 4 Derby undercard. “We’ll keep our options open,” he said.

** Charming Kitten and Palace Malice, along with two of the Oaks favorites, Dreaming of Julia and Unlimited Budget, were among a shipment of Pletcher-trained horses to arrive Monday evening at Churchill following an uneventful van ride from Florida.