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Take the Points Game in Jamaica G1 Victory 10-10-2009 Courtesy of the Thoroughbred Times Starlight Partners’ Take the Points elevated his game over the summer after he was switched to turf, and he solidified his standing as a leader of the three-year-old turf division by scoring a hard-fought win in the Jamaica Handicap (G1) on Saturday at Belmont Park. The three-year-old Even the Score colt charged to the front in early stretch and held off a sustained challenge from Straight Story in the final furlong to capture his second consecutive Grade 1 win by a head. Take the Points edged Black Bear Island (Ire) by a head to win the Secretariat Stakes (G1) at Arlington Park on August 8 in his previous start. Sent off as the second wagering choice at 2.70-to-1 odds, Take the Points was rank early before settling in third as longshot Chapin Beach led the seven-horse field through an opening half-mile in :48.63, followed closely by National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2) winner and 0.85-to-1 favorite Courageous Cat. Jockey Edgar Prado nudged Take the Points into contention entering the far turn, and the colt responded with a smooth outside run to overtake Chapin Beach and Courageous Cat, as Grade 2-placed Straight Story commenced his rally from fourth. Straight Story engaged Take the Points at the eighth pole and maintained his challenge through the stretch, but Take the Points would not be denied in the final stages. He covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:48.51 on Belmont’s firm inner turf course. Straight Story settled for a fourth close second-place finish in his previous five starts, all in stakes, besting Courageous Cat by three-quarters of a length. Following the race, trainer Todd Pletcher was undecided about a possible trip to Southern California for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in November. “I’ve got to talk to Jack Wolf [of Starlight Partners] as Take the Points is not Breeders’ Cup eligible, so that could have some impact on his next start. I would say one possibility is the Hollywood Derby [(G1) on November 29]; another would be to supplement to one of the Breeders’ Cup races.” Earlier this year, Take the Points performed admirably in two Triple Crown prep races on Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride surface, finishing second in the Sham Stakes (G3) and fourth in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), before taking a step back with a last-place finish in the Blackberry Preakness Stakes (G1). After being transferred to the turf, Take the Points responded with an encouraging fourth-place finish in the Colonial Turf Cup Stakes (G2) on June 20, followed by a third-place finish in the Virginia Derby (G2) on July 18, during which he hung in midstretch and was beaten by three-quarters of a length. Those races prefaced his breakthrough score in the Secretariat, and Take the Points’ similarly strong effort in the Jamaica indicated that he has found a comfort zone on the grass. “I would say that this was an equally good performance as the Secretariat,” Pletcher said. “I think this horse is really finding himself now and learning how to run and finish off a race.” Bred in Kentucky by Phoenix Farm, Take the Points is out of the unplaced Fred Astaire mare Ginger Ginger. He improved his career record to four wins in 11 starts with his Jamaica victory and earnings of $614,590.
Take the Points Game in Jamaica G1 Victory 10-10-2009
Courtesy of the Thoroughbred Times
Starlight Partners’ Take the Points elevated his game over the summer after he was switched to turf, and he solidified his standing as a leader of the three-year-old turf division by scoring a hard-fought win in the Jamaica Handicap (G1) on Saturday at Belmont Park. The three-year-old Even the Score colt charged to the front in early stretch and held off a sustained challenge from Straight Story in the final furlong to capture his second consecutive Grade 1 win by a head.
Take the Points edged Black Bear Island (Ire) by a head to win the Secretariat Stakes (G1) at Arlington Park on August 8 in his previous start. Sent off as the second wagering choice at 2.70-to-1 odds, Take the Points was rank early before settling in third as longshot Chapin Beach led the seven-horse field through an opening half-mile in :48.63, followed closely by National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2) winner and 0.85-to-1 favorite Courageous Cat.
Jockey Edgar Prado nudged Take the Points into contention entering the far turn, and the colt responded with a smooth outside run to overtake Chapin Beach and Courageous Cat, as Grade 2-placed Straight Story commenced his rally from fourth. Straight Story engaged Take the Points at the eighth pole and maintained his challenge through the stretch, but Take the Points would not be denied in the final stages.
He covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:48.51 on Belmont’s firm inner turf course. Straight Story settled for a fourth close second-place finish in his previous five starts, all in stakes, besting Courageous Cat by three-quarters of a length.
Following the race, trainer Todd Pletcher was undecided about a possible trip to Southern California for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in November. “I’ve got to talk to Jack Wolf [of Starlight Partners] as Take the Points is not Breeders’ Cup eligible, so that could have some impact on his next start. I would say one possibility is the Hollywood Derby [(G1) on November 29]; another would be to supplement to one of the Breeders’ Cup races.”
Earlier this year, Take the Points performed admirably in two Triple Crown prep races on Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride surface, finishing second in the Sham Stakes (G3) and fourth in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), before taking a step back with a last-place finish in the Blackberry Preakness Stakes (G1). After being transferred to the turf, Take the Points responded with an encouraging fourth-place finish in the Colonial Turf Cup Stakes (G2) on June 20, followed by a third-place finish in the Virginia Derby (G2) on July 18, during which he hung in midstretch and was beaten by three-quarters of a length.
Those races prefaced his breakthrough score in the Secretariat, and Take the Points’ similarly strong effort in the Jamaica indicated that he has found a comfort zone on the grass. “I would say that this was an equally good performance as the Secretariat,” Pletcher said. “I think this horse is really finding himself now and learning how to run and finish off a race.” Bred in Kentucky by Phoenix Farm, Take the Points is out of the unplaced Fred Astaire mare Ginger Ginger. He improved his career record to four wins in 11 starts with his Jamaica victory and earnings of $614,590.
LA: A. P. DELTA | CHATAIN | LITTLEEXPECTATIONS | SCRIMSHAW | WOKE UP DREAMIN KY: EVEN THE SCORE | SHANIKO | STUDENT COUNCIL | WILL HE SHINE | ZANJERO
