Big win for Burning Point

It took 14 starts, but Burning Point [$6.20, $4.00, $3.20] made her first win of the season a big one on Friday night as she captured the $201,000 Lady Liberty for the second straight year at the Meadowlands with a scorching 1:50.2 effort.

Driven by Ron Pierce, Burning Point claimed the lead from Cabrini Hanover in a brisk :53 half as 9-5 favorite Glowing Report [fifth] and Loyal Opposition [sixth] were left behind ,lagging cover on the outer tier. Burning Point pulled away from the field as they rounded the final turn--she was ahead by 3 1/2 lengths at the top of the homestretch--and held off a late bid by Marnie Hall with a final quarter in :29. It was another quarter-length back to Born Storyteller [$9.00] in third.

Trained by Steve Elliott, Burning Point surpassed $2.1 million in earnings with her victory in the Lady Liberty. Up to that point, she had been second or third in 12 of her 2006 starts but had yet to find the winner's circle.

"I didn't really have any strategy," Pierce said. " I just wanted to make sure she was up close and had a chance to win. I think [the move at the half] helped. It kept Loyal Opposition and Glowing Report from getting in the race. Those are very nice mares. I wasn't really happy with myself for going that much with her [to the half], but that's what I had to go to get there.

"I wasn't too concerned in the stretch," Pierce added. "I looked over my shoulder there around the last turn and saw they weren't keeping up. Steve Elliott told me as soon as I got to the paddock tonight that she was real sharp and that she should win in hand. Tonight she was as good as ever."

"She has a good week and she trained good," Elliott said. "This is her time of the year. We started her earlier this year than I would have liked, but it's working out.

Burning Point, owned by the Cuzzins Stable of Delray Beach, Florida, has a career record of 39 wins in 108 starts. In addition to the Lady Liberty, her 2005 season included wins in the Golden Girls and Classic Series at the Meadowlands. The 6-year-old mare by Camluck also finished second in the 2004 Lady Liberty. (Meadowlands press release)

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