Point Given's Half-Sister Rolls in Career Debut

The 2-year-old half sister of Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes winner Point Given made a successful racing debut Wednesday night at Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie. Point Gained, a 2-year-old Hennessy filly out of the Turkoman mare Turko's Turn, won her first career start by three lengths in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden race.

"It's what we were hoping for," trainer Steve Asmussen said. "We're glad it went smoothly. We need to keep her relaxed and look toward her future. There's no way she won't feel good about herself off that effort."

Jockey Corey Lanerie never used the whip and hardly shook the reins at Point Gained at any time during the race.

Point Gained broke on top in the field of 10 and wasn't challenged until nearing the turn. Storm Cell, under jockey Casey Lambert, attempted to build a lead of more than a length from the outside and appeared to have Point Gained in tight quarters along the rail. Lanerie said he wanted to swing the filly to the outside and around Storm Cell.

"I was in a bad spot, but (Point Gained) wouldn't let me come out of there," Lanerie said. "She just grabbed the bit, and I had one jump for a chance to get through. When she got that chance, she took me right through there. I never felt that with her in the mornings."

Point Gained returned $3.20, $3.00, and $2.40. Finishing second was Dancin' Daphne, a daughter of Swrod Dance trained by Ed Dodwell, with Our Carol (vy Carson City) third.

The final time for 5 1/2 furlongs was 1:04.67, with fractions of :21.73, :45.25, and :58.08 for the first five-eighths of a mile.

Prince Ahmed bin Salman purchased Point Gained for $300,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Calder 2-Year-Olds In-Training Sale in February. Asmussen said Point Gained is nominated to the $100,000-estimated Silver Spur Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on July 15, closing day of the thoroughbred season at Lone Star.