Longshot Point Piper Takes Brubaker

Point Piper, the longest shot in the field at 30-1 under jockey Mario Gutierrez, proved narrowly best in a blanket finish to win the featured $86,880 Harry F. Brubaker Stakes Wednesday at Del Mar.

 

Point Piper rallied between horses in midstretch to engage the leaders and kept on gamely to win by a half-length over another outsider, the 12-1 Global View, with 8-5 favored Motown Men a nose back in third place. Fourth in the field of seven older horses was Smooth Roller.

 

Point Piper, a five-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway owned by the partnership of Dan Gatto, Tim and Peter Russo and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, ran the mile on the main track in 1:35.89 and returned $62, $27.40 and $10 after his fourth win in 15 starts. First money of $50,100 increased his career earnings to $102,725.

 

Global View, who was ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, paid $10.60 and $4.40, while Motown Men, with Tyler Baze up, returned $2.60 to show.

 

The surprise victory by Point Piper in the Brubaker Stakes keyed a carryover of $56,415 in the Pick Six for Thursday. Post time for the first race Thursday is 2 p.m. with the Pick Six conducted on the third through the eighth races.