Take the Points

Take the Points Injured, Retired

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• August 22, 2010
• Racing, Northeast Region

Take the Points, winner of last year's Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) at Arlington Park, has been retired from racing after fracturing a splint bone in his right front leg.

Wide-Open Sword Dancer Draws 10

• By Jason Shandler
• August 11, 2010
• Racing, Northeast Region

Despite the return of the last three winners of the race, the 2010 edition of the Sword Dancer Invitational (gr. IT) lacks a true standout. That was made possible after the defection of probable favorite Take the Points.

Is Gio Ponti Still at the Top of His Class?

• By Jason Shandler
• July 16, 2010

Jason Shandler looks at the Turf Division, dominated by Gio Ponti in 2009. Read Blog

European Invader Chinchon Wins United Nations

• By Jason Shandler
• July 3, 2010
• Racing, Northeast Region

Irish-bred Chinchon, making just his second start in the U.S., showed an explosive turn of foot in the stretch and came from off the pace to capture the $760,000 United Nations Stakes (gr. IT) July 3 at Monmouth Park.

United Nations Stakes Ripe For the Taking

• By Jason Shandler
• June 30, 2010
• Racing, Northeast Region

Four grade I winners and a pair of intriguing international contenders were among the nine entered for a suddenly wide-open editon of the $750,000 BetFair/TVG United Nations Stakes (gr. IT) July 3 at Monmouth Park.

Winchester Hits Target in Manhattan Upset

• By Jack Shinar
• June 5, 2010
• Racing, Northeast Region

Winchester registered his first stakes win since taking the 2008 Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) when he posted a 21-1 stunner in the $400,000 Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap (gr. IT) at Belmont Park June 5.

Gio Ponti Tries to Win Manhattan Again

• By David Schmitz
• June 2, 2010
• Racing, Northeast Region

Gio Ponti, winner of last year's Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap (gr. IT) at Belmont Park on his way to two Eclipse Awards, gets top weight of 122 pounds in this year's renewel.

Al Shemali Pulls Duty Free Shocker

• By Jason Shandler
• March 27, 2010
• Racing, International

Longshot Al Shemali took over from a trio of American horses in upper stretch and pulled away to win the $5 million Dubai Duty Free (UAE-I) March 27 at Meydan Racecourse.

Take the Points to Run in Dubai Duty Free

• By Michele MacDonald
• March 20, 2010
• Racing, International

In one of several changes involving horses slated to run on the March 27 Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) program, Starlight Partners' dual grade I winner Take the Points has been given a new target, the Dubai Duty Free (UAE-I).

Full Field Expected For Dubai World Cup

• By Jason Shandler
• March 16, 2010
• Racing, International

It looks as though a full field of 14 runners will contest the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I)--the world's richest horse race--March 27 at Meydan Racecourse.

Furthest Land to Travel to Dubai World Cup

• By Michele MacDonald
• March 12, 2010
• Racing, International

Ken and Sarah Ramsey will aim to make international history on March 27 when their Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) winner Furthest Land competes in the $10-million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I).

Take the Points to Shoot for Dubai World Cup

• By Michele MacDonald
• March 3, 2010
• Racing, International

Starlight Partners' Take the Points, whose third career grade I victory last month was erased through a stewards' disqualification, shoots for his next big score in the record $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I).

Presious Passion Works Toward Mac Diarmida

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• February 18, 2010
• Racing, Southeast Region

Seven-year-old turf specialist Presious Passion will look to defend his Mac Diarmida title Feb. 28 at Gulfstream Park. Presious Passion was second in last year's Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park.

Court Vision Wins GP Turf Handicap After DQ

• By Evan Hammonds
• February 6, 2010
• Racing, Southeast Region

Take the Points crossed the wire first in the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (gr. IT) Feb. 6, but the 4-year-old colt was disqualified for interference, giving the win to odds-on choice Court Vision.

Pletcher on Parade at Palm Meadows

• By Steve Haskin
• January 31, 2010
• Racing

Todd Pletcher's all-star team was on display Sunday morning, with eight of his best colts working at Palm Meadows training center.

Deep Field Lines Up For Hollywood Derby

• November 26, 2009
• Racing, West Region

Take the Points, winner of a pair of grade I stakes in his last two starts, will renew acquaintances with Virginia Derby (gr. IIT) winner Battle of Hastings and five other graded winners Nov. 29 in the $300,000 Hollywood Derby (gr. IT) at Hollywood Park.

Countdown to the Cup: Can it Happen Twice?

• By Steve Haskin
• October 19, 2009
• Breeders' Cup

On April 17, 2008, American racing fans were immersed in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), and no one was even giving the Breeders' Cup a second thought. But across the Atlantic, there was a scene being played out that would have a far greater effect on the Breeders' Cup than anyone could have imagined.

Points and Promise: Second-Crop Sires On Top

• October 15, 2009
• Breeding

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

That this is an exceptional crop of second-year sires is not exactly news any more. Still, the point was hammered home again October 10 when two second-season horses were represented by grade I winners.

Take the Points Game in Jamaica Victory

• By Ron Mitchell
• October 10, 2009
• Racing, Northeast Region

Starlight Partners Take the Points was rated off the leaders and took the lead rounding the turn to post a game head victory over Straight Story in the $300,000 Jamaica Handicap (gr. IT) at Belmont Park on Oct. 10.

Jamaica Draws Take the Points, Courageous Cat

• By Jack Shinar
• October 8, 2009
• Racing, Northeast Region

Take the Points, narrow winner of the Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) on Arlington Million (gr. IT) day, heads the field for the $300,000 Jamaica Handicap (gr. IT), one of three grade I features on the Belmont Park program Oct. 10.

Secretariat: Take the Points Earns the Money

• By Jason Shandler
• August 8, 2009
• News, Racing, Midwest Region

Starlight Partners' Take the Points, locked in a stirring stretch duel with Black Bear Island, got up in the final strides under Kent Desormeaux to earn his first graded stakes win in the $400,000 Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) Aug. 8 on the Arlington Park turf.

Several With a Shot at Secretariat Stakes

• By Jason Shandler
• August 5, 2009
• Racing, Midwest Region

Ashbrook Farm's Reb, winner of the three straight including the American Derby (gr. IIT), and Irish invader Black Bear Island, who has a group II victory in England this season, lead a wide-open field of 11 in the $400,000 Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) for 3-year-olds Aug. 8 on the Arlington Park turf.

Battle of Hastings Double Tough in VA Derby

• By Jack Shinar
• July 18, 2009
• News, Racing, Southeast Region

In a carbon copy of last month's Colonial Turf Cup (gr. IIT), Battle of Hastings dug in late to head Straight Story to win the $750,000 Virginia Derby (gr. IIT) on the Colonial Downs turf July 18.

Battle of Hastings Wins Colonial Turf Duel

• By Jack Shinar
• June 20, 2009
• News, Racing, Southeast Region

Battle of Hastings took advantage of a gaping hole along the inside to gain the lead and then held off an unlucky Straight Story for a head victory in the $500,000 Colonial Turf Cup (gr. IIT) June 20 in Virginia.

Lime Rickey's Turn in Colonial Turf Cup?

• By Jason Shandler
• June 16, 2009
• News, Racing, Southeast Region

There is no doubt in the mind of Frank Alexander that Lime Rickey is a stakes-caliber type of horse. One of these days, perhaps in the $500,000 Colonial Turf Cup (gr. IIT) on June 13, the son of Lemon Drop Kid will prove it, Alexander said. All he needs is a little bit of racing luck.