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The Travers Stakes

Dateline: 08/25/01

Point Given locked up the 3-year-old championship and took dead aim on Horse of the Year with another impressive 3 1/2 length victory in the Travers at Saratoga. After tracking the early pacesetters Free of Love and E Dubai through the first mile in 1:35.82, he took the lead in the stretch and when he changed leads drew away for the win in 2:01.40.


Point Given winning the 2001 Travers courtesy of Tina Hines.
He had a bit of trouble getting his lead changed to go on by E Dubai. Jockey Gary Stevens said: "I didn't want to go to the front entering the stretch, because I know my horse has a tendency to fool around a little bit when he gets in front. Once I made the lead, he was a little late in switching leads. I kind of had to throw him over to the right lead, and once he did the acceleration was there and he opened up a nice lead. I moved him out to give us plenty of room. He's a big horse and when he changes leads, he needs a couple of lanes to do it comfortably. In order to make him change leads, I have to bring him inwards and I need some room to do that, that's why I moved him out. With one big move, he switches over to the right lead and takes off."

The win brings Point Given's record to 9 wins in 13 starts with earnings of $3,968,500. His ultimate goal this year will be the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic as he tries to solidify his bid for the Horse of the Year Eclipse Award. 

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 7   Point Given        Stevens          3.30    2.80  2.30
 6   E Dubai            Bailey                   4.10  3.40
 8   Dollar Bill        Chavez                         3.60

Winning Time:  2:01.40

$2 Exacta 7-6                  12.20
$2 Trifecta 7-6-8              62.50
$2 Superfecta 7-6-8-1         119.50
Results Chart
NYRA Recap Article

More Travers articles and info:

Graphic courtesy of NYRA, photo ©2001 by Tina Hines, licensed to About.

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