Past the Point may be Harty's fastest horse

Quick: who is Eoin Harty's fastest Breeders' Cup possibility - Well Armed or Colonel John?

Answer: None of the above. Those two share 106 Beyer tops, but late-blooming Past the Point came to hand suddenly at Saratoga, winning a second-level allowance with a 106, and coming right back to earn a 110 for a Woodward placing against Curlin.

Both those races were at 1 1/8 miles, and the 4-year-old stays at that distance in Friday's Meadowlands Cup, where he drew outside pace rivals Da' Tara and Timber Reserve. Depending on how he fares, Past the Point could either stretch out for the Classic or turn back for the Dirt Mile.

Since fully extending Curlin in the Woodward, Past the Point has worked three times on Polytrack at the Greentree Training Center.

"He's been doing super," said Harty.

Lewis Michael, who breezed six furlongs in 1:10.80 at Arlington Park on Sept. 20, had an easy half-mile breeze in 50.40 at Keeneland Tuesday. With 62 days from his Pat O'Brien score to the Dirt Mile, it's noteworthy that trainer Wayne Catalano is batting .400 with 61- to 180-day layoffs in 2007-08.

* Zanjero ran himself into the Dirt Mile with an off-the-pace triumph in the Kentucky Cup Classic

* A decision between the Classic and Dirt Mile for Needles Stakes winner Smooth Air awaits his owner's return from an Alaskan vacation.

* Slew's Tiznow, who won the El Cajon in his only start this year, passed the Goodwood on Saturday and instead worked five furlongs in a bullet 1:00.40 that morning.