Leading World Cup contender Animal Kingdom has finished second in what is expected to be his final United States race, the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap.
Point Of Entry got the better of the 2011 Kentucky Derby winner who will run in the $US10 million ($A9.78 million) World Cup in Dubai and possibly be seen at Royal Ascot before he joins the Arrowfield Stud roster in the Australian spring.
Third placed Unbridled Command is also Australia bound with the Cox Plate his target after Americain’s part-owners Kevin and Colleen Bamford bought shares in him to race with David Bernsen.
With Joel Rosario aboard for the first time, Animal Kingdom rushed up along the rail to battle leader Salto leaving the back straight, then gained the advantage midway on the home turn.
Point of Entry, runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, took the lead at the 200m and held off Animal Kingdom as they raced to the finish line.
“I think Joel was worried the speed was a little slow, so he moved a little early, which cost us the race,” trainer Graham Motion said.
“Joel made a split-second decision and I’m not going to second-guess him for it. If he won, he would have been looked like a hero.”
“The race was getting some publicity. The back of the Racing Form had both horses on there,” winning trainer Shug McGaughey said.
“I think we beat a quality horse. I think it’s sort of a feather in Point of Entry’s cap to be able to beat a couple of horses that were in here.”
It was Animal Kingdom’s second straight runner-up performance. He finished second to Wise Dan in the Breeders’ Cup Mile last November.
His racing schedule has been interrupted by two injury lay-offs, resulting in just two starts since his only unplaced finish in the 2011 Belmont Stakes.
