Point of Honor tries to keep Weaver rolling in Phipps

ELMONT, N.Y. – It would be hard for trainer George Weaver to top what happened last Saturday at Belmont Park, but that doesn’t mean he won’t try.

Weaver, who saddled Vekoma to a dominating 7 1/4-length victory in last Saturday’s Grade 1 Carter Handicap, will send out Point of Honor in this Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Ogden Phipps Stakes at Belmont. The Phipps, at 1 1/16 miles, offers a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Keeneland in November.

At 3, Point of Honor won the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and was second in both the Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama – Saratoga’s two Grade 1 routes for 3-year-old fillies.

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This year, she was second in an overnight handicap at Tampa before finishing a closing third behind Ce Ce in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park. Point of Honor had a terrible start in the Apple Blossom and at one point was 23 lengths behind.

“It was not a fun race to watch at the start,” Weaver said. “The fact she was able to get up for third was crazy good.”

Point of Honor seems best-suited to races around two turns. The Phipps is contested at one turn.

“If I had to pick, I’d rather it be two turns, but she didn’t run that bad at Tampa,” said Weaver, referring to the one-turn, seven-furlong race in which she was second. “The main thing is to not get on the chase. As long as she could find a nice stride, she’ll run her race.”

A field of six was entered Wednesday for the Phipps. In post order, with riders, they are: Pink Sands (Jose Ortiz), Point of Honor (Javier Castellano), She’s a Julie (Ricardo Santana Jr.), Blamed (John Velazquez), Ollie’s Candy (Joel Rosario), and Golden Award (Junior Alvarado).