Red Knight gets perfect setup in Point of Entry Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – The right distance and the proper pace scenario combined to help Red Knight achieve his first win of the year, a 1 1/2-length victory in Sunday’s $100,000 Point of Entry Stakes at Belmont Park.

Sitting 12 lengths off the early pace established by Paret, Red Knight, under Junior Alvarado, advanced into contention when the whole pack made a move toward the leader down the backside and sat chilly around the far turn before tipping wide into the lane. Red Knight gradually got to Paret, passing him at the sixteenth pole en route to the victory.

Paret, trying 1 1/2 miles coming out of a 5 1/2-furlong turf race, held second by 1 3/4 lengths over Pillar Mountain, the 2-1 favorite. It was 4 1/4 lengths back Manitoulin, who was followed, in order, by Carlino, Arrocha, and Noble Indy.

The win was the seventh from 17 starts for Red Knight, a New York-bred gelding trained by Bill Mott for Trinity Farm. It was his first victory since he took the H. Allen Jerkens going two miles at Gulfstream last Dec. 29.

Though 0 for 5 this year, Red Knight did finish second in the Grade 2 Elkhorn at 1 1/2 miles in April, but had found other graded stakes too tough and the 1 1/8 miles of the Ashley T. Cole for New York-breds too short.

“He tries hard at a mile and an eighth, but he really has to have the right pace scenario and have them come back to him,” Mott said. “It was an honest pace for a mile and a half race.”

Paret, under Edgar Prado, set early fractions of 23.58 seconds for the quarter, 48.32 for the half-mile, and 1:13.29 for six furlongs. Several runners made moves to get closer to him before the far turn. When Pillar Mountain snuck up inside of Red Knight, Red Knight got a little bit aggressive, Alvarado said. But Alvarado was able to settle him down before making his move.

“My horse got a little bit anxious when he felt that other horse inside of him, I had to pull a little bit to make sure I stay off heels,” Alvarado said. “Then I had to try and keep his rhythm right there.”

Red Knight covered the 1 1/2 miles in 2:25.94 and returned $7.20 to win as the second choice. Mott said he may look at the Grade 3, $200,000 Red Smith going 1 3/8-miles at Aqueduct next for Red Knight.

Thought Paret had not raced beyond 1 1/16 miles since he came to the U.S earlier this year., trainer James “Chucky” Lawrence said marathon-distance races were why he was shipped here. Lawrence explained that Paret was in contention for bonus money in the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championship Series, which is why he ran 5 1/2 furlongs last out in the Rainbow Heir Stakes at Monmouth, finishing third.

“Edgar said if he had known him he might have run even a little better,” Lawrence said. “Pretty neat coming from five-eighths to a mile and a half. This was the reason we brought him over, to try and teach him to do this.”