Point Given

Point Given
Point Given at theKentucky Horse Park,2018
Sire	Thunder Gulch
Grandsire	Gulch
Dam	Turko's Turn
Damsire	Turkoman
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	(1998-03-27)March 27, 1998
Died	September 11, 2023(2023-09-11)(aged 25) Kentucky Horse Park Lexington, Kentucky,U.S.
Country	United States
Colour	Chestnut
Breeder	The Thoroughbred Corp.
Owner	The Thoroughbred Corp.
Trainer	Bob Baffert
Record	13: 9–3–0
Earnings	$3,968,500
Major wins
Kentucky Cup Juvenile Stakes(2000) Hollywood Futurity(2000) San Felipe Stakes(2001) Santa Anita Derby(2001) Haskell Invitational Handicap(2001) Travers Stakes(2001) Triple Crown racewins: Preakness Stakes(2001) Belmont Stakes(2001)
Awards
U.S. Champion 3-Yr-Old Colt(2001) American Horse of the Year(2001)
Honours
United States Racing Hall of Fameinductee (2010)

Point Given(March 27, 1998 – September 11, 2023) was an American-bredThoroughbredracehorse who was the 2001American Horse of the Year.That year, he won thePreakness Stakes,Belmont Stakes,Haskell Invitational,andTravers Stakes,becoming the first horse ever to win four $1 million races in a row. The only time he finished out of the money was in the2001 Kentucky Derby,where he ran fifth. Point Given was inducted into theNational Museum of Racing and Hall of Famein 2010.

Background

Point Given was bred inKentuckyby The Thoroughbred Corp, owned byPrince Ahmed bin Salman.He was sired by dual Classic winnerThunder Gulchand was produced by the stakes-winning mare Turko's Turn, byTurkoman.Turko's Turn was named the 2001Kentucky Broodmare of the Year.

Point Given was achestnuthorse who stood 17.1hands(69 inches, 175 cm) high. Although hisconformationwas generally excellent, he was known for his small, somewhat thin-soled feet. He was called "The Big Red Train" or "T-Rex" by his trainerBob Baffert,the latter in recognition of his occasional bad behavior.

Racing career

2000: two-year-old season

Point Given made his debut on August 12, 2000, in a maiden special weight race atDel Mar,finishing second. He then broke his maiden in his next start on August 26.On September 16, he stepped up intograded stakescompany in theKentucky Cup Juvenile StakesatTurfway Park.He reared up at the start and was far back during the early running but made a wide move turning into the stretch and drew off to win by3+1⁄2lengths.

Point Given's next start was in theChampagne StakesatBelmont Parkon October 14. He broke in fourth place and then moved to the lead after half a mile. He was soon joined by Trailthefox and the two completed six furlongs in 1:09.55. Turning for home, the rest of the field started to close and Yonaguska took the lead. Point Given battled back and started to pull clear of Yonaguska, only to be passed in the final strides by a fast-closingA P Valentine.

On November 4, Point Given entered theBreeders' Cup Juvenile,held that year atChurchill Downs.He broke poorly from post position 1 and was in tenth place moving into the first turn, then fell even further back down the backstretch, trailing by over 10 lengths with less than a half mile remaining in the race. In the final turn, jockeyGary Stevensswung him extremely wide to get racing room. Point Given closed rapidly down the stretch but came up a nose short toMacho Unoin a photo finish. "There was a ton of traffic going on in front of me", said Stevens. "There was a lot of bumping and jostling and when I got him going, I just wanted to keep him out of trouble."

Point Given finished his two-year-old campaign in theHollywood FuturityatHollywood Parkon December 16. He trailed early but then moved to the lead down the backstretch and won easily. "He wasn't running at all", said Stevens. "He was gearing himself down and just absolutely playing with 'em."

Point Given was a finalist at the 2000Eclipse Awardsbut finished second in the voting to Macho Uno for Champion Two-Year-Old honors.

2001: three-year-old season

After a brief layoff, Point Given returned in theSan Felipe StakesatSanta Anita Parkon March 17, 2001, a relatively late start for a horse on the Triple Crown trail. Baffert faced some criticism for leaving no margin for error, and Stevens admitted that they were feeling the tension. Point Given though behaved professionally throughout the race. He sat back off the early pace then made a strong move down the stretch and drew off to win by2+1⁄4lengths.He made his next start on April 7 in theSanta Anita Derbyas the heavy favorite. On a muddy track, he pressed the early pace then took command on the far turn for an easy win by5+1⁄2lengths.

Point Given was made the favorite for the2001 Kentucky Derbyon May 5 but gave his supporters cause for concern when he reared several times after a routine gallop on the morning of the race. His exercise rider Pepe Aragon held on "like a gerbil hanging on to a piece ofPVC pipe"and the horse was unharmed.During the race however, Point Given came up flat and could only finish fifth behindMonarchos.Stevens later attributed the loss to a combination of a foot infection the colt had suffered earlier that week and the extremely fast racing surface at Churchill Downs, which made the foot more sensitive.

In thePreakness Stakeson May 19, Point Given made a three-wide move around the final turn and then battled with Congaree for first place. He failed toswitch leadswhen they entered the stretch and lugged in towards the rail as he inched past Congaree. He finally switched leads in the final 70 yards and pulled away to win by2+1⁄2lengths.

In the week leading up to the Belmont, Point Given started acting up again. He cut himself over the eye while "trying to kill himself" in his stall. After receiving stitches, the medication made him start actingcolickyso Baffert withheld his hay to avoid making the stomach problems worse. Point Given became so hungry that he crawled under the webbing in his stall, gashing himself in the side in the process. He was briefly loose from his stall, but was then caught by the grooms.

His performance in the Belmont Stakes was unaffected by these antics. Instead, he turned in a dominating performance to win by12+1⁄4lengths in a time of 2:26.56 for1+1⁄2miles, tied for the fourth fastest time in the history of the race. He pressed the early pace, went to the lead on the backstretch and continued to open up all the way around the track, under continued urging from Stevens. "He was actually idling with me a little bit the last eighth of a mile, that's why I kept up at him," said Stevens. "It was important for everybody to see how good he is."

Point Given was given some time off to recover from cracked heels. He returned on August 5 in theHaskell Invitational,which had its purse increased to $1.5 million to attract the horse. Before a record crowd, Point Given went off at odds of 3–10despite conceding up to nine pounds to his rivals. He raced near the back of the field for the first half mile and then started his move on the far turn. He was slower than normal to accelerate though and was still only third in mid stretch. Under strong urging from Stevens, he finally hit the lead in the final strides, winning by half a length. "He's never been in a battle like this before," said Stevens, "and he built some character today."

Point Given made what would be his final start in theTravers Stakeson August 25 at theSaratoga Race Course.He raced with E Dubai on the outside of the early leader, Free of Love. When Free of Love tired on the far turn, E Dubai went to the lead with Point Given poised to his outside. In the stretch, Point Given drew away a3+1⁄2length win. "I still don't think you've seen the best of him", said Stevens. "He knows he's great", said Baffert. "He's cool."

Point Given was the first horse since 1967 to win thePreakness Stakes,Belmont, and Travers Stakes, joining an elite club of racing greats who achieved that triple:Duke of Magenta(1878),Man o' War(1920),Whirlaway(1941),Native Dancer(1953), andDamascus(1967).He was the first horse to ever win four $1 million races in a row.

Point Given was the unanimous selection at the Eclipse Awards for American Champion-Three-Year Old Colt. He also prevailed overTiznowfor Horse of the Year honors.

Race record

Date	Age	Distance	Surface (condition)	Race	Grade	Track	Odds	Field	Finish	Winning time	Winning (losing) margin	Jockey	Ref
Aug 12, 2000	2	5+1⁄2furlongs	Dirt (Fast)	Maiden Special Weight	Maiden	Del Mar Fairgrounds	19.00	11	2	1:04.16	(5+1⁄2lengths)	Yutaka Take
Aug 26, 2000	2	7 furlongs	Dirt (Fast)	Maiden Special Weight	Maiden	Del Mar Fairgrounds	*1.20	7	1	1:23.43	2 lengths	Victor Espinoza
Sep 16, 2000	2	1+1⁄16miles	Dirt (Fast)	Kentucky Cup Juvenile Stakes	III	Turfway Park	3.30	11	1	1:47.01	3+1⁄2lengths	Shane Sellers
Oct 14, 2000	2	1+1⁄16miles	Dirt (Fast)	Champagne Stakes	I	Belmont Park	4.60	10	2	1:41.45	(1+3⁄4lengths)	Kent Desormeaux
Nov 4, 2000	2	1+1⁄16miles	Dirt (Fast)	Breeders' Cup Juvenile Stakes	I	Churchill Downs	8.10	14	2	1:42.05	(nose)	Gary Stevens
Dec 16, 2000	2	1+1⁄16miles	Dirt (Fast)	Hollywood Futurity	I	Hollywood Park	*0.30	4	1	1:42.21	1 length	Gary Stevens
Mar 17, 2001	3	1+1⁄16miles	Dirt (Fast)	San Felipe Stakes	II	Santa Anita Park	*0.40	8	1	1:41.94	2+1⁄4lengths	Gary Stevens
Apr 7, 2001	3	1+1⁄8miles	Dirt (Wet fast)	Santa Anita Derby	I	Santa Anita Park	*0.70	6	1	1:47.77	5+1⁄2lengths	Gary Stevens
May 5, 2001	3	1+1⁄4miles	Dirt (Fast)	Kentucky Derby	I	Churchill Downs	*1.80	17	5	1:59.97	(11+3⁄4lengths)	Gary Stevens
May 19, 2001	3	1+3⁄16miles	Dirt (Fast)	Preakness Stakes	I	Pimlico Race Course	*2.30	11	1	1:55.41	2+1⁄4lengths	Gary Stevens
Jun 9, 2001	3	1+1⁄2miles	Dirt (Fast)	Belmont Stakes	I	Belmont Park	*1.35	9	1	2.26.56	12+1⁄4lengths	Gary Stevens
Aug 5, 2001	3	1+1⁄8miles	Dirt (Fast)	Haskell Invitational Handicap	I	Monmouth Park	*0.30	6	1	1:49.77	1⁄2length	Gary Stevens
Aug 25, 2001	3	1+1⁄4miles	Dirt (Fast)	Travers Stakes	I	Saratoga Race Course	*0.65	9	1	2:01.40	3+1⁄2lengths	Gary Stevens

Retirement

One week after his victory in the Travers Stakes, Point Given was found to have a strainedtendonthat ended his racing career. He was retired to stand at stud atThree Chimneys FarminMidway, Kentucky,for an initial fee of $125,000. He was subsequently syndicated (offered for ownership by numerous owners) for $50 million, the third highest price in history (behindFusaichi Pegasusat $60 million andBig Brownat something over $50 million).

In 2013, Point Given was relocated toCalumet FarminLexington, Kentucky.Hisstud feefor 2017 was $5,000.During his stud career, Point Given sired two champions (Canadian Horse of the YearSealy Hilland Points of Grace) and 15 graded stakes winners, including Grade I winners Coil, Point Ashley and Go Between.

In November 2017, Calumet announced that Point Given was being pensioned from stud duties and would be relocated to theKentucky Horse Park.Starting in April 2018, he was to be available for viewing by the public in the Hall of Champions.

Point Given was voted into theNational Museum of Racing and Hall of Famein 2010.

Point Given died on September 11, 2023, at age 25.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Point Given, chestnut horse, foaled March 27, 1998

Sire Thunder Gulch	Gulch	Mr. Prospector	Raise a Native
			Gold Digger
		Jameela	Rambunctious
			Asbury Mary
	Line of Thunder	Storm Bird	Northern Dancer
			South Ocean
		Shoot A Line	High Line
			Death Ray
Dam Turko's Turn	Turkoman	Alydar	Raise a Native
			Sweet Tooth
		Taba	Table Play
			Filipina
	Turbo Launch	Relaunch	In Reality
			Foggy Note
		David's Tobin	Tobin Bronze
			Restless Love (family 2-n)