Point Given (USA)
March 27, 1998 – September 11, 2023
Thunder Gulch (USA) x Turko's Turn (USA), by Turkoman (USA)
Family 2-n
March 27, 1998 – September 11, 2023
Thunder Gulch (USA) x Turko's Turn (USA), by Turkoman (USA)
Family 2-n
A hulking, muscular horse with a willful disposition, Point Given probably would have whitened Bob Baffert's hair if the trainer's head had not already reached that color. The big colt loved to run, though, and he was gifted with speed and stamina to match his outsized frame. Had he not had rather thin-soled feet that stung him on hard tracks—like the one he encountered on the first Saturday in May as he struggled in Monarchos' wake—he might have become the twelfth Triple Crown winner. He was an inconsistent stallion but sired two Canadian champions and several U.S. Grade 1 winners.
Race record
13 starts, 9 wins, 3 seconds, 0 thirds, US$3,968,500
2000:
2001:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 125 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 2000, one pound below champion Macho Uno.
Highweighted on the International Classifications of 2001 for 3-year-old dirt males at 130 pounds over 2200m–2400m (the best rating given to any 3-year-old over any surface or distance) and 127 pounds over 1900m–2000m.
As an individual
A chestnut, Point Given stood 17.1 hands. He had a well-angled, powerful shoulder, a deep girth, a good hip, and good muscling down into his forearms and gaskins. He was rather short and upright in his pasterns and slightly sickle-hocked, with small, rather thin-soled feet. His racing action was smooth, light and fluid, and he possessed tremendous acceleration. He was retired due to a tendon injury in his left foreleg which would have required four to six months off from training. He was mentally immature and still inclined to act up and goof off up through his final victory, the Travers Stakes. Energetic and strong-willed, he was prone to minor injuries while in his stall and around the barn and was often a handful to get into the starting gate.
As a stallion
Point Given tended to sire progeny that needed some time to mature and did better around two turns than one. Records maintained by The Jockey Club credit him with 397 winners (55.8%) and 33 stakes winners (4.6%) from 712 named foals.
Notable progeny
Coil (USA), Go Between (USA), Point Ashley (USA), Points of Grace (USA), Sealy Hill (CAN)
Notable progeny of daughters
Arthur's Ride (USA), Cambier Parc (USA), Cold Heart (BRZ), Hillaby (CAN), Nautilus (BRZ)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Point Given was bred and owned by Prince Ahmed Salman's The Thoroughbred Corporation. He was trained by Bob Baffert and was ridden to his Classic triumphs by Gary Stevens. Syndicated for US$1 million a share (with Salman retaining a significant interest), Point Given entered stud in 2002 in Kentucky at Three Chimneys Farm and moved to Calumet Farm in February 2013. He has also shuttled to Brazil. He was pensioned in November 2017 and moved to the Kentucky Horse Park's Hall of Champions, where he died on September 11, 2023.
Pedigree notes
Point Given is inbred 4x4 to Raise a Native. He is a half brother to Perfect Story (by Tale of the Cat), dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Street Story (by Street Cry).
Point Given's dam Turko's Turn earned Kentucky Broodmare of the Year honors for 2001 based on his achievements but had her share of misfortune as a producer, as three of the four full siblings to Point Given that she produced died before being named. She was a juvenile stakes winner and a half sister to listed stakes winner U R Unforgetable (by Affirmed). She is also a half sister to American Jewel (by Quiet American), dam of listed stakes winner Ahsugahnow (by Forestry.)
Point Given's second dam, Turbo Launch (by Relaunch), is a listed stakes-winning half sister to multiple Grade 2 winner Dignitas (by In Reality) and multiple listed stakes winner Explosive Girl (by Explodent). She is out of the Tobin Bronze mare David's Tobin, a full sister to multiple stakes winner Magnificent Don and to Tobin's Love, dam of Grade 3 winner Tobin's Rose (by Montmartre).
Books and media
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan in 2011 at Three Chimneys Farm. Used by permission.
Last updated: November 10, 2024
Race record
13 starts, 9 wins, 3 seconds, 0 thirds, US$3,968,500
2000:
- Won Hollywood Futurity (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- Won Kentucky Cup Juvenile Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Turfway Park)
- 2nd Breeders' Cup Juvenile Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Champagne Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Belmont)
2001:
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Haskell Invitational Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Monmouth)
- Won Travers Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Santa Anita Derby (USA-G1, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- Won San Felipe Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 2010)
- Monmouth Park Hall of Champions
- Eclipse Award, American Horse of the Year (2001)
- Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old male (2001)
- Eclipse Award finalist, 2-year-old male (2000)
Assessments
Rated at 125 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 2000, one pound below champion Macho Uno.
Highweighted on the International Classifications of 2001 for 3-year-old dirt males at 130 pounds over 2200m–2400m (the best rating given to any 3-year-old over any surface or distance) and 127 pounds over 1900m–2000m.
As an individual
A chestnut, Point Given stood 17.1 hands. He had a well-angled, powerful shoulder, a deep girth, a good hip, and good muscling down into his forearms and gaskins. He was rather short and upright in his pasterns and slightly sickle-hocked, with small, rather thin-soled feet. His racing action was smooth, light and fluid, and he possessed tremendous acceleration. He was retired due to a tendon injury in his left foreleg which would have required four to six months off from training. He was mentally immature and still inclined to act up and goof off up through his final victory, the Travers Stakes. Energetic and strong-willed, he was prone to minor injuries while in his stall and around the barn and was often a handful to get into the starting gate.
As a stallion
Point Given tended to sire progeny that needed some time to mature and did better around two turns than one. Records maintained by The Jockey Club credit him with 397 winners (55.8%) and 33 stakes winners (4.6%) from 712 named foals.
Notable progeny
Coil (USA), Go Between (USA), Point Ashley (USA), Points of Grace (USA), Sealy Hill (CAN)
Notable progeny of daughters
Arthur's Ride (USA), Cambier Parc (USA), Cold Heart (BRZ), Hillaby (CAN), Nautilus (BRZ)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Point Given was bred and owned by Prince Ahmed Salman's The Thoroughbred Corporation. He was trained by Bob Baffert and was ridden to his Classic triumphs by Gary Stevens. Syndicated for US$1 million a share (with Salman retaining a significant interest), Point Given entered stud in 2002 in Kentucky at Three Chimneys Farm and moved to Calumet Farm in February 2013. He has also shuttled to Brazil. He was pensioned in November 2017 and moved to the Kentucky Horse Park's Hall of Champions, where he died on September 11, 2023.
Pedigree notes
Point Given is inbred 4x4 to Raise a Native. He is a half brother to Perfect Story (by Tale of the Cat), dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Street Story (by Street Cry).
Point Given's dam Turko's Turn earned Kentucky Broodmare of the Year honors for 2001 based on his achievements but had her share of misfortune as a producer, as three of the four full siblings to Point Given that she produced died before being named. She was a juvenile stakes winner and a half sister to listed stakes winner U R Unforgetable (by Affirmed). She is also a half sister to American Jewel (by Quiet American), dam of listed stakes winner Ahsugahnow (by Forestry.)
Point Given's second dam, Turbo Launch (by Relaunch), is a listed stakes-winning half sister to multiple Grade 2 winner Dignitas (by In Reality) and multiple listed stakes winner Explosive Girl (by Explodent). She is out of the Tobin Bronze mare David's Tobin, a full sister to multiple stakes winner Magnificent Don and to Tobin's Love, dam of Grade 3 winner Tobin's Rose (by Montmartre).
Books and media
- Point Given is profiled in Chapter 13 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
- Footage of Point Given’s win in the 2001 Belmont Stakes can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pic4Oj1G0GE.
Fun facts
- Point Given was nicknamed “The Big Red Train” and “The T-Rex,” both allusions to his size, strength and headstrong nature.
- Point Given was the first horse to win four consecutive races with guaranteed purses of US$1 million or more.
- Point Given was the fifth American Horse of the Year to take up residence in the Hall of Champions. His predecessors were Forego, John Henry, Cigar and Alysheba.
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan in 2011 at Three Chimneys Farm. Used by permission.
Last updated: November 10, 2024