Baffert Hopes Point Determined Takes to Hollywood in Affirmed

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(from Hollywood Park notes)
Trainer Bob Baffert hopes Point Determined likes the surface at Hollywood Park more than he did at Churchill Downs.

"He had a good trip in the Kentucky Derby, he just didn't run," said Baffert Wednesday of the colt's ninth-place finish, 15 lengths behind winner Barbaro, in his last start at Churchill on May 6.

"We'll find out Saturday if he can handle Hollywood Park," said Baffert. Point Determined is scheduled to make his first start over the Inglewood, Calif., track in the $100,000 Affirmed Handicap (gr. III) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles.

Point Determined's sire, Point Given  , won the Hollywood Futurity (gr. I) in 2000.

"He's been training good since he came back," said Baffert of Point Determined, who has recorded five works at Santa Anita since his return from Kentucky. He has won two of seven starts and finished second in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I).

Baffert said he may also enter Record for the Affirmed. Record did like Churchill Downs, winning the Derby Trial there in his last start on April 29.

Point Determined will be ridden for the first time by Victor Espinoza.

The Affirmed serves as a major prep for the $350,000-added Swaps Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. II) at 1 1/8 miles on July 8.

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