2001 BELMONT STAKES
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POINT GIVEN WINS THE BELMONT STAKES 

THE BELMONT STAKES OFFICIAL RESULTS

JUNE 9, 2001

BELMONT STAKES

GRADE I

BELMONT RACETRACK, ELMONT, NEW YORK

FOR THREE YEAR OLDS

ONE AND ONE-HALF MILES

MAIN TRACK: FAST

 

Pgm Horse Win Place Show
9 POINT GIVEN 4.70 3.70 3.00
8 AP VALENTINE   5.00 3.90
5 MONARCHOS     4.20

$2 EXACTA 9-8

$20.60

$2 TRIFECTA 9-8-5

$76.00
 

POINT GIVEN

Winner

Belmont Stakes

Jockey: Gary Stevens

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Owners: The Thoroughbred Corporation

OFFICIAL ORDER OF FINISH

Program Number Horse Lengths Behind
9 POINT GIVEN  
8 AP VALENTINE 12 1/4
5 MONARCHOS 13
3 DOLLAR BILL 14
1 INVISIBLE INK 16 1/2
4 THUNDER BLITZ 24
6 BUCKLE DOWN BEN 29 3/4
2 BALTO STAR 58 1/2
7 DR GREENFIELD 60+

  23:4  48:0  1:11:3  1:35:2  2:00:3  2:26:2 

POINT GIVEN IMPRESSIVE IN VICTORY

June 9, 2001

Belmont Stakes

Elmont, New York

For all those who may have been skeptical after the Preakness not believing that Point Given was the next super horse had all their questions answered on Saturday afternoon at Belmont.  Point Given took the lead nearing the half mile pole and never looked back winning the third leg of the triple crown by twelve and one-quarter lengths at the wire to take his position at the top of the three year old class.  AP Valentine and Monarchos ran second and third but really never made a challenge in the one and one-half mile marathon for the three-year-olds.  

"We knew he was a great horse, and the Belmont showed what kind of horse he really is. I got excited when he turned for home, but for a while it looked like A P Valentine was going to make a race out of it. Then I just watched him draw off through the stretch. We ran up the score.",  said Bob Baffert reflecting the day after back at his barn at Belmont. Baffert referred to his Belmont winner and added that the champ will fly back to Churchill before flying on to California to continue training.  Baffert did indicate that The Travers Stakes during the Saratoga meeting will be on The Thoroughbred Corp. three-year-old's agenda.

The connections of AP Valentine and Monarchos were happy with their colts performances and admitted that the Belmont winner was on top of his game but that their colts gave good accounts of themselves.  Like Point Given both the second and third place runners will be pointed towards Saratoga and The Travers Stakes.

For the recap of the race see below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
133rd Belmont Stakes Race Recap:

As predicted Balto Star went to an early lead trailed closely by Buckle Down Ben while Point Given was content to rate outside in third position as the leader ran the opening quarter in 23:4.  At the half mile marker Point Given dragged jockey Gary Stevens to the lead and ran the half mile in 48:0.  Buckle Down Ben was clinging to second position as Balto Star was now ready to throw in the towel after running on the lead early.  AP Valentine ran fourth while Invisible Ink and Monarchos were trying to keep contact with the leaders in fifth and sixth positions.  Through the far turn and into the stretch Point Given opened up a seven length lead as the race was over. AP Valentine was passing the early pace setters to gain second position as Monarchos was up for third position.  At the wire Point Given won the 133rd edition of the Belmont Stakes by twelve and one quarter lengths on the wire.  AP Valentine was second as Monarchos finished third.  Point Given is a three year old colt owned by The Thoroughbred Corporation, trained by Bob Baffert and was ridden by Gary Stevens.