Point Given rules Travers

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Point Given, the clear leader of the 3-year-old division after winning both the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, stepped to the forefront in the race for Horse of the Year with a dominant 3 1/2-length win in the 132nd running of the Travers Stakes at Saratoga.

Point Given, the heavy favorite in the nine-horse field, stalked the sensible pace set by longshot Free of Love and second-choice E Dubai, before taking charge in mid-stretch and drawing off to an easy win.

The Bob Baffert trainee owned by The Thoroughbred Corp. paid $3.30 to win under jockey Gary Stevens.

E Dubai, ridden by Jerry Bailey and trained for Godolphin by Saeed bin Suroor, held on for second in the Grade 1, $1 million mid-summer classic for 3-year-olds. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to third-place finisher Dollar Bill.

Point Given ran the 1 1/4 miles in a time of 2:01.2.

The winner's share of $600,000 brings Point Given's career bankroll to nearly $4 million.