Point proven in Preakness Stakes

Centre stage: Point Given (green cap) led the way

Point Given was cheered on by a record crowd of more than 100,000 as he battled to victory in the Preakness Stakes.

The colt redeemed himself after a shock defeat in the Kentucky Derby by winning the second leg of the US Triple Crown at Pimlico, Baltimore.

It was a win which ensures the big race hat-trick, last achieved by Affirmed in 1978, is safe for another year.

Point Given, ridden by Gary Stevens, finished 2¼ lengths ahead of the rallying A P Valentine, and another neck in front of stablemate Congaree in third.

Dollar Bill was a further 1¼ lengths back in fourth.

The real Point Given showed up today

  Winning jockey Gary Stevens

A crowd of 104,454 watched the 126th running of the race.

Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos trailed the field early and never threatened, finishing sixth behind Griffinite.

Point Given made an explosive move from the half-mile pole to sweep past the leaders.

He gradually extended his margin through the stretch, covering the 1 3/16 miles of the $2mi race in 1 min 55 2/5 secs.

Stevens, who won the Preakness aboard Silver Charm in 1997, said that the victory erased the disappointment of Point Given's fifth-place finish as Kentucky Derby favourite.

"The real Point Given showed up today," said Stevens.

"He put a good field away. He did it easily and all of America knows what a great racehorse he is now."

A P Valentine ran on well for second and will test Point Given again in the Belmont Stakes on 9 June, the third jewel in the Triple Crown.

Point Given made up for Kentucky Derby woe

Trainer Bob Baffert saddled Point Given to win the handler's third Preakness in five years.

Baffert sent out Silver Charm to win the 1997 event and Real Quiet for victory in 1998.

"At least we know that he is the horse we thought he was," said Baffert.

"We never had any doubts but we were all puzzled. Churchill Downs is a weird strip sometimes."

Trainer John Ward had a hard time hiding his disappointment after watching Monarchos trail early and fail to rally.

"I had a terrible feeling in the first turn," said Ward.

"He didn't want to go to his right lead. He didn't seem to be taking to the track."

Ward was philosophical about his dashed Triple Crown hopes.

"If you don't know how to lose in this business," he said, "you'd better get out of it."