Point Me By surged to command leaving the furlong pole en route to a 2 3/4-length triumph Saturday in the Grade 1, $300,000 Bruce D. Stakes at Arlington Park in suburban Chicago.
Ridden by Luis Saez for Homewrecker Stable and trainer Eddie Kenneally, Point Me By was making his stakes debut in the Bruce D., which had been known as the Secretariat Stakes for its first 43 runnings. The Kentucky-bred colt by Point of Entry returned $5.40 as a slight favorite in a field of nine 3-year-olds when finishing the one-mile distance in 1:37.70 over a turf course rated good and getting an 89 Beyer Speed Figure.
Tango Tango Tango, the 19-10 second choice, took over for front-running Like a Saltshaker when challenged by Ginsburned as the field wheeled for home, but then Point Me By was in full roar, splitting them both with his winning run. Tango Tango Tango, a last-out winner of the American Derby, held second by a nose over Ginsburned.
Point Me By was coming off a fourth in a two-turn allowance on the Saratoga turf last month after winning his career debut in a turf sprint at Churchill Downs in June.
‘”I just feel kind of bad that we won’t be able to come back and try the (Arlington) Million next year,” said Ron Rashinski, who owns Homewrecker with his wife, Ricki, when referring to how this is expected to be the final year for the International Turf Festival at Arlington.
Point Me By was a $30,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland in January 2019. This is the third Grade 1 winner Kenneally has trained for the Rashinskis, who live in the Chicago area, following Bushfire and Sailor’s Valentine.
The $2 exacta (6-2) paid $17.80, the $1 trifecta (6-2-4) returned $30.10, and the 10-cent superfecta (6-2-4-8) was worth $14.06.
