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Point Given is peerless in prep

 
Published March 18, 2001|Updated Sept. 9, 2005

Point Given enhanced his status as the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby, racing to a 2\-length victory Saturday in the $250,000 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita.

"When he made the lead last year, he'd just sort of throw his head up and wait on horses," trainer Bob Baffert said. "Today, he took off."

Baffert will prepare Point Given for the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 7, in all probability the 3-year-old's final tuneup for the Kentucky Derby on May 5.

Point Given, who carried 122 pounds, took the long way around. The strapping son of Thunder Gulch rallied while racing five-wide on the last turn, gained the lead entering the stretch and finished strong.

Point Given has four wins and three seconds in seven career starts and $768,500 in earnings. It was the winner's first start since a victory in the Hollywood Futurity on Dec. 16.

Point Given ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.94 on a fast main track and paid $2.80, $2.20 and $2.10.

I Love Silver rallied to finish second under Eddie Delahoussaye and paid $5.60 and $2.80. Jamaican Rum, with Alex Solis aboard, finished third and returned $2.60.

Bank Street, Indy Lead, Skip To The Stone and Silvertongue Fox completed the order of finish. Gold Trader, who dueled with Silvertongue Fox for the early lead, broke a cannon bone in a hind leg and was destroyed.