By Bloodhorse.com
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 18, 2014) — The first grade I winner for trainer Tim Yakteen is now his first Eclipse Award winner as Points Offthebench received the award as champion male sprinter Saturday, Jan. 18 in South Florida.
Donnie Crevier and Charles Martin’s Points Offthebench won four straight sprints in Southern California in 2013, a stretch capped by back-to-back grade I victories in the Bing Crosby Handicap at Del Mar and Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes at Santa Anita Park. In both grade I wins Points Offthebench defeated Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) winner Goldencents, victories further flattered by Goldencents’ win in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I).
Bred in California by Gary Rocks, Points Offthebench is the second Cal-bred in three years to be named champion male sprinter, joining 2011 champion Amazombie.
Points Offthebench was preparing for a start in the XpressBet Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I) when he broke down Oct. 26 at Santa Anita. He suffered a fractured right front fetlock and was euthanized. He is the first deceased horse to win a divisional Eclipse Award since Left Bank was named champion older horse in 2002.
In the male sprinter division, Points Offthebench edged Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Secret Circle and Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) winner Sahara Sky.
The votes below represent only first-place votes from members of the consolidated voting entities, NTRA, Daily Racing Form, and National Turf Writers And Broadcasters:
Points Offthebench, 125; Secret Circle, 70; Sahara Sky, 45; Justin Phillip , 4; Private Zone, 2; Immortal Eyes, 1; Strapping Groom, 1. Voter Abstention, 1.