Weaver: Point of Honor a go for Saratoga's Personal Ensign

Trainer George Weaver confirmed graded stakes winner Point of Honor for the Grade 1, $500,000 Personal Ensign on Aug. 1 at Saratoga Race Course.

Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Stetson Racing, the 4-year-old daughter of Curlin will be in search of her first victory since capturing the Grade 2 Black Eyed Susan last May at Pimlico Race Course. She has not finished off the board in five starts since, including four placings against Grade 1 company.

Point of Honor will arrive at the Personal Ensign off a runner-up effort in the one-turn Grade 1 Ogden Phipps on June 13 at Belmont Park, where she tracked the pace in fifth from the three path, received her cue from Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano, moved into contention in unison to the outside of She's a Julie missing by a nose.

Weaver said that the two-turn mile and an eighth will prove beneficial.

"I think she's better at two turns and we always have thought that," Weaver said. "She still ran huge last time and she'll get another chance to redeem herself in the Personal Ensign."

Point of Honor worked five furlongs over the Oklahoma training track on Wednesday morning, completing the distance in 1:03.42.

"She worked well," Weaver said.

Point of Honor is one of many talented distaffers in the older filly and mare division, which includes champions Monomoy Girl and Midnight Bisou, the latter of who also is targeting the Personal Ensign.

"It's a pretty solid group. There are some really good mares out there and she's one of them," Weaver said. "We're just looking to keep on trucking and win one of these and hopefully we can get to the Breeders' Cup."

The Personal Ensign, a Breeders' Cup "Win And You're In" event for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff on November 7 at Keeneland.

Dual Grade 1-winner Vekoma is still on target for the Grade 1, $300,000 Forego presented by America's Best Racing on August 29 at Saratoga.

Owned by R. A. Hill Stable, Gatsas Stables, Vekoma won the Grade 1 Runhappy Carter and the Grade 1 Runhappy Met Mile at Belmont Park this summer, where he registered triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures.

"The Forego is on the 29th so we'll probably start working the first part of August," Weaver said. "He's been galloping, doing well and I'm just letting him get back up underneath himself."