Point of Honor outfights Ulele to win Black-Eyed Susan Stakes

BALTIMORE – Point of Honor outbattled Ulele through the final sixteenth of a mile in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan on Friday at Pimlico and prevailed by a half-length, improving her career record to 3 wins from 4 starts.

Following the 1 1/8-mile race, trainer George Weaver said the Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga would likely be Point of Honor’s midseason goal.

“The Alabama would be the logical place to point,” Weaver said. “We’ll work back from there and decide where she’ll race between now and then.”

The $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan was the fifth winner on the card for jockey Javier Castellano, who had ridden Point of Honor in her two prior races, a 2 3/4-length victory in the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs and a fourth-place effort in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks on March 30.

At Gulfstream, Castellano said he tried to save ground with Point of Honor, but the filly ran into traffic problems. He took a different course of action Friday, swinging the daughter of Curlin five wide on the far turn to lodge her bid.

“I figured with only eight fillies in the field, it would be better to give up the ground and give her a clear path to run,” Castellano said.

Cookie Dough was allowed to set her own early tempo on a one-length lead. She set fractions of 23.35 seconds, 47.02, and 1:10.81 before being taken on in upper stretch from the inside by Ulele and from the outside by Point of Honor. Those two came away with the lead and fought hard before Point of Honor got the upper hand late.

Point of Honor paid $7.80 to win as the second wagering choice behind 5-2 Always Shopping, who finished sixth. Point of Honor was timed in 1:47.88 after a one-mile clocking of 1:35.52.

Cookie Dough finished a clear third, 2 1/4 lengths behind Ulele and 41/4 lengths ahead of Brill in fourth.

Weaver and Point of Honor’s owners – Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Stetson Racing – wanted to race her in the Kentucky Oaks two weeks ago, but they did not have enough qualifying points to get into the field. They then pointed her to the Black-Eyed Susan.

“We wanted to run in the Oaks,” Weaver said. “It’s nice to go to the backup plan and get it done. We’re very happy.”

Point of Honor won her first start in an off-the-turf maiden race at Gulfstream in December, at which time Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners bought into the filly, with Stetson Racing retaining an interest. Weaver has trained her throughout her career.

“She’s turned into a very professional filly,” he said.