Breeders' Cup race runners-up meet in Gulfstream Turf

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Hallandale Beach, FL (Sports Network) - A pair of second-place runners from last year's Breeders' Cup World Championships will meet for the first time in Saturday's $300,000 Kitten's Joy Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap.

Animal Kingdom, second in the Breeders' Cup Mile, and Breeders' Cup Turf runner-up Point of Entry top a field of six in the 1 1/8-mile grass stakes. Animal Kingdom is the 8-5 morning line favorite with Point of Entry 9-5 in the program.

Trained by Graham Motion for owner Team Valor, Animal Kingdom will start from the outside post with jockey Joel Rosario getting the mount for the injured Ramon Dominguez. Dominguez, who suffered a fractured skull last month in a racing mishap, was released earlier this week from a rehabilitation hospital.

The 2011 Kentucky Derby winner is making his first start since finishing second to Wise Dan in the Mile on Nov. 3 at Santa Anita. The chestnut horse raced only one other time in 2012 when he won an allowance race on the grass at Gulfstream on Feb. 18.

In just nine career starts, Animal Kingdom has four wins and an equal number of seconds for more than $2.3 million.

A good showing on Saturday will put the 5-year-old on schedule to make his next start in the Dubai World Cup on March 30.

"The big picture is getting him to Dubai," said Motion. "This race is an important steppingstone. Believe me, he's going to be ready to run, and it's not going to be easy. But the big picture is getting him to Dubai. It's always been our goal to get there."

Point of Entry, trained by Shug McGaughey, will break from post 2 with John Velazquez again in the saddle.

The 5-year-old was second behind Little Mike in the Breeders' Cup Turf as the 2-1 favorite. Owned by Phipps Stable, Point of Entry registered wins last year in the Elkhorn, Man o'War, Sword Dancer and Turf Classic.

He begins 2013 with a five race win streak and seven victories in 15 lifetime starts for better than $1.8 million.

From the rail out here is the field for the Turf Handicap: Film Making, Edgar Prado, 20-1: Point of Entry, John Velazquez, 9-5; Salto, Joe Bravo, 4-1; Unbridled Command, Javier Castellano, 15-1; Where's the Baby, Jermaine Bridgmohan, 4-1 and Animal Kingdom, Joel Rosario, 8-5.

Post-time will be approximately 4:01 p.m. (ET).