Shigeki Kikkawa
Bench Points (left) overpowers Runflatout to win the Grade 3 Lazaro Barrera Memorial Stakes at Hollywood Park. Bench Points will be favored in Wednesday’s Real Good Deal Stakes against Cal-breds at Del Mar.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Although they were raised together on the same farm in Oregon, well-bred Bench Points and nickel-bred Chiloquin otherwise shared little in common.
It was no surprise that the geldings went in different directions. Bench Points burst onto the scene early, winning two stakes at Del Mar; Chiloquin won a maiden-claimer at Fairplex Park. Bench Points won his first four races; Chiloquin won one of four.
Early on, Bench Points and Chiloquin seemed unlikely to meet on the track. That is, until Wednesday at Del Mar.