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It was a day of princes, presidents, and Pegasus. With Belmont Park rocking from the surge of electricity generated by the presence of former President Bill Clinton and his wife, U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), Point Given finally sprouted the wings his owner, Prince Ahmed Salman, trainer Bob Baffert, and jockey Gary Stevens had envisioned all along.
Monday, June 11, 2001Ongoing, successful sports operations don't just get that way through the good fortune of chance. At the heart of achievement is the teamwork that melds individuals into a cohesive, powerful whole. Nowhere was this teamwork more in evidence than through this year's Triple Crown adventures of Point Given.
Monday, June 11, 2001New York sports radio personality Mike Francesa made $50,000 in wagers on the Belmont Stakes to benefit the Imus Ranch, and his earnings for the race totaled $62,782.25.
Sunday, June 10, 2001In his final analysis of the Belmont Stakes, The Blood-Horse's Steve Haskin went out on a limb and explained "Why Point Given Should Dominate." He was exactly right.
Saturday, June 09, 2001Continuing a week-long trend of perfect weather, Belmont Day dawned sunny with a pleasing, refreshing breeze. Forecasts call for the afternoon to remain sunny with a high of 82. The main track will be fast. New York Racing Association officials, citing a stronger Belmont Stakes field and nicer weather, were anticipating an attendance figure that improves on last year's on-site gathering of 67,000.
Saturday, June 09, 2001The $50,000 that will be wagered on Saturday's Belmont Stakes to benefit the Imus Ranch, a working cattle ranch in New Mexico that takes in kids with cancer and lets them work with horses and other livestock, will likely be riding on Point Given.
Friday, June 08, 2001New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, will attend Saturday's Belmont Stakes (gr. I). The senator will present the trophy to the winning connections of the third leg of the Triple Crown.
Friday, June 08, 2001We're going to venture out on that precarious and proverbial limb, even at the risk of leaving certain trainers dumfounded over our out-of-the-norm audacity. We're not going to be brazen enough to state emphatically that Point Given is the biggest lock in the Belmont Stakes since Secretariat. But...
Thursday, June 07, 2001The post position draw is in, Point Given is in, Dollar Bill is in. Not much more to do now but wait. With the arrival of Team Valor's English import Dr Greenfield at approximately 6 p.m. this evening, the cast of nine for the 133rd Belmont Stakes will be in place. Everyone is in agreement that this year's Belmont looks to be one of the most contentious runnings in a long while.
Wednesday, June 06, 2001There were no surprises Wednesday when nine 3-year-olds were entered for Saturday's $1-million Belmont Stakes, third leg of Thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown. As he did in the previous two legs of the series--the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness--morning line favorite Point Given will start from the outside post position.
Wednesday, June 06, 2001Preakness (gr. I) winner Point Given had his final major workout before Saturday's mile and a half Belmont Stakes (gr. I), going five furlongs on a sloppy track at Churchill Downs in company with another 3-year-old from trainer Bob Baffert's stable. The son of Thunder Gulch covered the distance in :59 3/5, according to Baffert.
Monday, June 04, 2001Belmont Stakes hopeful Dollar Bill worked five furlongs at Churchill Downs Sunday in company with stablemate Kazoo. Over the fast surface, the trouble-prone son of Peaks and Valleys covered the distance in :59 3/5 under exercise rider Joanne McNamara.
Sunday, June 03, 2001With the Belmont Stakes just over a week away, the questions persist: will the Test of the Champion live up to its billing as a showdown between Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos and Preakness winner Point Given, or will one of the other horses who have run well in Derby or Preakness, such as A P Valentine, Invisible Ink, Dollar Bill and Thunder Blitz, knock off the big two?
Friday, June 01, 2001We're going to venture out on that precarious and proverbial limb, even at the risk of leaving certain trainers dumfounded over our out-of-the-norm audacity. We're not going to be brazen enough to state emphatically that Point Given is the biggest lock in the Belmont Stakes since Secretariat. But...
Friday, June 01, 2001Point Given and A P Valentine, the first two finishers in the Preakness Stakes, were on the work tab Tuesday morning, at Churchill Downs and Belmont, respectively. Point Given breezed five furlongs in :59 3/5 with regular rider Dana Barnes aboard, while A P Valentine went the same distance in :59 2/5 under Jamie Sanders.
Tuesday, May 29, 2001The Thoroughbred Corp's Point Given returned to the track at Churchill Downs on Thursday for the first time since his victory in last Saturday's Preakness (gr. I).
Thursday, May 24, 2001When it comes to the Triple Crown in America, many believe the air of heaven blows between Bob Baffert's ears.
Tuesday, May 22, 2001He may ride for a Saudi Arabian prince, but Gary Stevens hasn't lost touch with the common man. As the 38-year-old native of Caldwell, Idaho, was leaving the winner's circle ceremonies following Point Given's redemptive victory in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I), Stevens spotted Gladys McHargue, a female outrider, perched on her pony, tears streaming down her cheeks. He turned to wife Nikki, who was carrying a bouquet of black-eyed Susans, plucked out a single flower, and handed it to McHargue, then reached up to give her a warm embrace and exchange a few private words.
Tuesday, May 22, 2001It's hard to enjoy a private and special moment with 100,000 screaming fans around you. But after Point Given rolled to a 2 1/4-length victory at Pimlico May 19, trainer Bob Baffert grabbed his cell phone and tuned out the roar of the Preakness (gr. I) crowd. While watching the big red colt jog toward the winner's circle, Baffert called his 78-year-old mother in Nogales, Ariz.
Tuesday, May 22, 2001Prince Ahmed Salman likes quality, and he believed he had the goods in Point Given. He made the long trip from Saudi Arabia to Kentucky for the first Saturday in May to chase immortality. The Thoroughbred Corp., his racing and breeding operation, has been cranking out top racehorses for years. There have been three Breeders' Cup winners, owned exclusively or in partnership, but no classics trophies in the United States.
Tuesday, May 22, 2001Point Given, the beaten favorite in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), redeemed himself two weeks later in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I), taking racing's middle leg of the Triple Crown Saturday in authoritative fashion before a record Pimlico crowd.
Saturday, May 19, 2001With two and a half hours to the post, Point Given is the slight favorite at 2-1 in the 126th Preakness Stakes (gr. I) at Pimlico. There is only $423,135 in the win pool. Monarchos and Point Given were both 5-2, but the public has now made Point Given, fifth as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), the narrow choice.
Saturday, May 19, 2001Don't let anyone fool you. The 126th Preakness Stakes is so riddled with questions, it's all but impossible to truly feel strongly about one horse. You can guess or deduce or surmise or assume, but there is no way you state with any authority you know what's going to happen. We have a different scenario from the Derby, and it's anyone's guess if we'll have a fast or slow pace; if Monarchos can come back in two weeks after becoming only the second horse besides Secretariat to break 2:00 in the Derby; if the lightly raced Congaree is going to "bounce" after turning in a sensational effort in the Derby; if Point Given's Derby was a fluke; or if A P Valentine and Dollar Bill can rebound after encountering nightmare trips in the Derby.
Thursday, May 17, 2001Enjoy today's action while you can. There won't be much more happening from a training standpoint from now on, as trainers will spend the remainder of the week using words like "maintain" and "preparation." With Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos sticking to a galloping program, today's works by Point Given and Congaree at Churchill Downs and A P Valentine at Pimlico were to be very revealing, as an indicator how these horses bounced out of the Derby.
Monday, May 14, 2001Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos galloped at Pimlico Racecourse Monday morning as he continues preparations for Saturday's Preakness Stakes, second leg of the Triple Crown. Also at Pimlico Monday, A P Valentine worked five furlongs. At Churchill Downs, trainer Bob Baffert worked his two Preakness candidates, Point Given and Congaree, and Dallas Stewart reported Dollar Bill is on track after his workout.
Monday, May 14, 2001Jockey Gary Stevens, readying for the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) aboard Point Given, said he thought the unusually hard Churchill Downs racing surface hurt the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) favorite more than some of the lighter horses in the race.
Friday, May 11, 2001Bob Baffert confirmed on Tuesday that Jerry Bailey will replace Victor Espinoza aboard Stonerside Stable's Congaree, the third-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), when the Arazi colt runs next in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) on May 19.
Tuesday, May 08, 2001Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos returned to the scene of his biggest career victory Tuesday when he exercised at Churchill Downs. With exercise rider Bryan Beccia aboard, the gray son of Maria's Mon was lively, nipping at the boots of assistant trainer Yvonne Azeff, aboard the lead pony as the pair made their way to the track.
Tuesday, May 08, 2001How the horses that finished behind Monarchos came out of the Kentucky Derby and their future plans.
Monday, May 07, 2001The Maryland Jockey Club lists 12 horses as possible entrants for the Preakness Stakes (gr. I), led by Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Monarchos.
Sunday, May 06, 2001Monarchos exploded to the lead as the field straightened for home and won the 127th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs Saturday. The track had been playing fast all day and it did again in the Derby, Monarchos recording the second fastest winning time in Derby history. He covered the 1 1/4-miles in 1:59.97. Secretariat ran 1:59 2/5 (before timing in hundredths) in 1973.
Saturday, May 05, 2001"Poor Pepe looked like a gerbil hanging on to a piece of PVC pipe," Bob Baffert said Saturday morning after Kentucky Derby favorite Point Given gave the trainer a scare following a routine gallop over the Churchill Downs surface. Baffert said Point Given came off the track, wheeled, and repeatedly reared straight up in the air, flailing his front legs, and causing exercise rider Pepe Aragon to hold on for dear life.
Saturday, May 05, 2001As the Kentucky Derby win pool grew to $6.3 million by 4:00 p.m. (EDT) Saturday, Point Given was still favored at 2-1 odds. That is a radical departure from advance wagering Friday, when Dollar Bill was favored over Point Given.
Friday, May 04, 2001Tick...tick...tick. Nothing to do now but wait. This evening's draw for post positions will be the final stress test for the Derby trainers, after which they will just have to get by Thursday and Friday, and then racing's longest day – Derby Day. Then, it'll all be over in a heartbeat, and all the questions will be answered. There was little activity this morning, as summer temperatures continue to climb by the day, bringing with them the forecast of possible thundershowers throughout the next few days. The morning's main action was Bob Baffert slipping Point Given past the hordes of onlookers virtually unnoticed.
Wednesday, May 02, 2001Fusaichi Pegasus was the first favorite to win the Kentucky Derby in more than 20 years when he did so last year. Can Point Given follow in his footsteps as this year's likely Derby chalk?
Monday, April 30, 2001The setting was the same as past years: Bob Baffert standing in the Churchill Downs grandstand, his white hair glistening in the morning sun like a fresh mound of snow. A two-way radio is held close to his mouth, as he surveys the post-renovation break scene and offers his first set of instructions to exercise rider Dana Barnes. Several minutes later, after watching his two Derby horses work, Baffert takes a deep, relaxing breath and breaks out into a smile and selection of one-liners. His horses once again have left a long line of smoldering hoof prints in the Churchill Downs surface.
Monday, April 30, 2001Kentucky Derby favorite Point Given and stablemate Congaree had their last workouts before Saturday's race, each posting fast times for their five furlong efforts. Point Given was timed in :58.50 seconds, as clocked by trainer Bob Baffert, who caught Congaree in :58.75 for five furlongs. Also Monday, Churchill officials announced that Tincin, winless in seven starts, was no longer being considered for the Derby after developing a cough.
Monday, April 30, 2001Sorry, but we've got yet another terrific work to confuse you with. But even with all the top works we've seen this week, we'd have to give this morning's drill by Monarchos the highest marks. There was a great deal of confusion as to what time he actually worked, as the clockers somehow only caught the final three-eighths of his five-furlong work.
Friday, April 27, 2001Point Given: While there are questions surrounding most of the top choices, the only question people are asking about this big chestnut is whether he's going to win the Triple Crown. Work on April 24 should be interesting.
Monday, April 23, 2001Welcome to Churchill Downs. Many of the names and faces change each year, but the same charge of electricity still ripples through the backstretch. Bob Baffert has two shotgun cartridges aimed right at the Twin Spires, while Nick Zito is back after a one-year absence, and for the first time since Genuine Risk captured the roses in 1980, D. Wayne Lukas will be a spectator.
Monday, April 23, 2001Santa Anita Derby winner Point Given and Wood Memorial (GII) winner Congaree drew many admiring glances at Churchill Downs Thursday as they galloped over the track's one-mile racing oval. Meanwhile, Champagne winner A P Valentine arrived at Churchill Thursday afternoon to continue his training toward the Derby.
Thursday, April 19, 2001There has been a lot of talk about Balto Star recently. His last two races – actually, last three -- have been so mind-boggling, especially his Thoro-Graph numbers, people simply don't know what to make of him. Balto Star is the horse Bob Baffert is afraid of, despite being a gelding, a son of sprinter Glitterman, and a confirmed front-runner. If you go by logic, all three of those factors should add up to Balto Star having too much going against him. Then again, maybe they shouldn't.
Thursday, April 19, 2001Leading Derby contender graded stakes earnings
Thursday, April 19, 2001Kentucky Derby favorite Point Given arrived in Louisville late Wednesday morning and was bedded down in his stall in Bob Baffert's Churchill Downs barn by 12:30 p.m., according to Baffert assistant Jim Barnes, who traveled with the son of Thunder Gulch from California.
Wednesday, April 18, 2001Now that this past weekend's preps have had time to sink in, is the Derby picture more or less clear than it was last week? Although only five strong horses emerged – Congaree, Monarchos, Millennium Wind, Balto Star, and Jamaican Rum – the opinion here is that the Derby picture still is very confusing, based on the number of horses trying to buck history.
Wednesday, April 18, 2001Probable Derby favorite Point Given is scheduled to arrive at Churchill late Wednesday morning after working a quick half-mile at Santa Anita on Tuesday. The work in :46 4/5 was the fastest of the day for 26 horses working at the distance. Meanwhile, working at Churchill Downs on a brisk and windy morning Tuesday was Louisiana Derby (gr. II) winner Fifty Stars, who finished second in the Lone Star Derby in his most recent effort. With jockey Donnie Meche aboard for trainer Steve Asmussen, the colt breezed a half-mile in :50.
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