Sancal's Golden Point running well with blinkers off
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLELOUISVILLE, Ky. – Murat Sancal claimed a 4-year-old colt named Golden Point over the winter at Gulfstream Park and has done fairly well with him so far.
“We took the blinkers off, and he has run well,” said Sancal, a 31-year-old native of Istanbul, Turkey. “He is a good horse.”
Golden Point will make his first appearance of the Churchill Downs spring meet when another four-day race week begins with a Twilight Thursday card. Joe Rocco Jr. will be aboard when breaking from post 1 in the lone allowance of an eight-race card, a $55,500, first-level race at a mile on turf.
Although Sancal has 18 horses in training at Churchill, he is based primarily at historic Elmendorf Farm in Lexington, Ky., where he oversees a boarding and quarantine operation. Sancal, who is from a family of teachers and professors, had an innate love of horses that ultimately led him to migrate six years ago to the United States, where he has become fully immersed in the game. At Elmendorf, he has under his care a March foal who is a full brother to the great Shared Belief.
“It is very exciting,” said Sancal, who has won twice at this meet with five starters, including Galatasaray ($18.40) in the sixth race Sunday.
Golden Point has breezed three times at Churchill since getting a brief timeout following his most recent race April 30 at Gulfstream, where from three starts the colt recorded one win, one second, and one fourth following the Sancal claim. He appears to fit in what shapes up as a well-matched featured race that drew an oversubscribed lineup, with the other main contenders being Gustnado, Approvethismessage, and Scissors and Tape.
The feature is the penultimate race in a Single Six sequence that runs from races 3 through 8. The jackpot carryover in the 20-cent wager stands at $560,991 into Thursday. First post is 5 p.m. Eastern.
KEY CONTENDERS
Gustnado, by Smart Strike
Last 3 Beyers: 86-83-81
◗ Bill Mott-trained 4-year-old is probably the class of the group but needs to show that he wants to win, having collected a slew of seconds and thirds but just one victory from 12 career starts.
Scissors and Tape, by Curlin
Last 3 Beyers: 77-83-60
◗ Curiously named 3-year-old was second for this same condition on closing day of the Keeneland spring meet and figures prominently from the start under Julien Leparoux.
Approvethismessage, by Magna Graduate
Last 3 Beyers: 60-89-78
◗ Seems the poor effort on opening night of this spring meet is attributable to the sloppy conditions; he’ll fare considerably better when returning to the turf.
Golden Point, by Point Given
Last 3 Beyers: 81-86-74
◗ Rail draw can afford Rocco a ground-saving trip aboard a colt whose two-back victory in the starter ranks at Gulfstream came with a well-timed rally from off the pace.