By Joe Bianca
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Stetson Racing's Point of Honor (Curlin), a stakes winner twice in her first four starts, came within a length of Grade I glory when second to undefeated 'TDN Rising Star' and Chad Brown trainee Guarana (Ghostzapper) in the GI Coaching Club American Oaks July 21 at Saratoga. Saturday, the impressive chestnut will meet another talented, yet less heralded runner from the Brown barn, Peter Brant's Dunbar Road (Quality Road), in a nine-horse renewal of the GI Alabama S. at the Spa.
Debuting a six-length winner in an off-the-turf event Dec. 16 at Gulfstream, Point of Honor repeated in Tampa's Suncoast S. Feb. 9 before running an even fourth in the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks Mar. 30. Overcoming a wide trip to capture the GII Black-Eyed Susan S. May 17 at Pimlico, the $725,000 Keeneland September RNA finished gamely in the CCA Oaks, getting her last three furlongs in under 36 seconds, but wasn't quite able to reel in the loose-on-the-lead Guarana, who is being pointed to the GII Cotillion S. Sept. 21. That race will be contested at nine furlongs, same as the CCA Oaks, while the stamina-laden Point of Honor gets an extra eighth to work with in the 10-panel Alabama.
“She's bred to handle it and this is the race we've had in the back of our minds for several months now,” trainer George Weaver told the NYRA notes team. “She has to go get it done, but it's something we're looking forward to. She's had a good four weeks and she's been training good. We're happy with her. She's not a difficult keep. She's remained happy all year. She likes it here, but she liked it in Florida and liked it in Kentucky [too].”
Dunbar Road also aired on debut, by 8 3/4 lengths Mar. 3 at Gulfstream and was runner-up in the Gulfstream Oaks, earning her a trip to Louisville for the GI Kentucky Oaks. Stuck on the also-eligible list, she didn't get in, but hasn't missed a beat since. Easily annexing a Belmont allowance May 30, she signaled her readiness for another attempt at Grade I company with a sharp success in the GII Mother Goose S. June 29 in Elmont. Though she earned a modest 87 Beyer for that effort, it belies the strength of the performance, as the bay rallied into a slow pace to score going away while clocking her last five-sixteenths in a sizzling :28.91.
Should the two favorites falter slightly, a pair of multiple graded stakes winners will be ready to pounce. Phoenix Thoroughbreds and KatieRich Farms' Lady Apple (Curlin) took five tries to break her maiden, but reeled off two more victories once she did, including the GIII Fantasy S. Apr. 12 at Oaklawn. Third in the Kentucky Oaks, she returned off a brief break to conquer the GIII Iowa Oaks July 5 at Prairie Meadows. She has returned to drill sharply over the local training track for the hot Steve Asmussen barn.
Street Brand (Istan), an upset winner of the GII Fair Grounds Oaks Mar. 23, had early trouble before checking in seventh in the Kentucky Oaks, and bounced back with a convincing success in the GIII Indiana Oaks last out July 13 at Indiana Grand.
Cheyenne Stables' Ulele (Candy Ride {Arg}) stands an outside chance after two near misses against today's contenders. Beaten a half-length by Point of Honor in the Black-Eyed Susan, she was denied by the same margin against Lady Apple in Iowa, and figures to set or sit close to a slow pace here.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
