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Joseph Shields Jr.'s homebred Classic Point, away since her victory last November in the Go For Wand Handicap in New York, returned to the races in fine form to post an upset in the $200,000 Inside Information Stakes March 21 at Gulfstream Park. Ridden by Paco Lopez for trainer James Jerkens, Classic Point came into the Saturday stakes off of a series of solid works at Palm Meadows Training Center. The 6-year-old mare by Flatter out of the Langfuhr mare Discerning had two previous victories in 10 starts at Gulfstream. The complexion of the Inside Information changed dramatically when Merry Meadow, the 1-2 favorite in a field of six, dropped out of contention heading for home in the seven-furlong race after contending early. There was a minus show pool, so her off-the-board finish triggered large show prices. The early pace was set by Best Behavior, who went the opening quarter-mile in :22.05 seconds with Merry Meadow and Sweet Whiskey in close attendance. Sweet Whiskey took over from the dueling leaders through a half-mile in :44.60 seconds as Classic Point began to move up from fourth. Sweet Whiskey held a diminishing lead through six furlongs in 1:10.54 with Classic Point to her outside and a rallying You Bought Her three-wide. It was Classic Point who got up to win by a neck over You Bought Her, with Sweet Whiskey a half-length back in third. Centrique, Best Behavior, and Merry Meadow completed the order of finish. The final time for seven furlongs on a fast track was 1:24.47. Classic Point paid $10.80, $4.60, and $12.40 across the board. You Bought Her returned $11.40 and $26.80, and Sweet Whiskey paid $11 to show. The $2 exacta paid $115.20 and the $1 trifecta $178.60. Classic Point, bred by Florida, through last spring had been trained by H. Allen Jerkens, who on March 18 died at age 85. His son, James, took over training duties when Classic Point returned in late September, when she finished fifth in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Stakes at Belmont Park. She then won the restricted Pumpkin Pie Stakes at Belmont and the Go For Wand at Aqueduct Racetrack. "Obviously, the circumstances made it a little special," James Jerkens said after the race. "When she first came down here, she didn't do so well. She lost all her hair. My father said she did it to him last year around this time. That's why she hadn't run until today, when she finally came around. "She's a very good work horse. She's very willing. She'll do anything you want. She's an absolute dreamboat to train." Jerkens said his father's death "was only three days ago, and it's going to be a long time to get over it. I've been around him a long time." Shields said Classic Point has had "two wonderful trainers," and that Lopez gave her "the encouragement she needed" to win the Inside Information. "I think that Jimmy has the ability to continue on the same level as Allen did," Shields said. "He has gotten some good horses, and that will make a big difference. As far as I'm concerned personally, I've known him for 25 years. I knew him when he was at Allen's barn. He's a good guy and I think his career is really starting to blossom."
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