Name: Bench Points
Barn Name: Mo
Birth Year: 2008
Gender: Gelding
Height: 16.2
Color: Chestnut
Location: Cotati, CA
Starts/Win/Place/Show: 20/5/0/2
Career Highlights: Racing primarily in the southern California Bench Points raced in the Triple Bend Handicap, The Lazaro Barrera Memorial Stakes (which he won), the Santa Anita Derby, The San Felipe Stakes, the I’m Smokin Stakes, the Graduation Stakes, the Real Good Deal Stakes, the Green Flash Handicap, the Pirate’s Bounty Stakes and the Donald Valpredo California Cup Sprint Stakes. In other words, Bench Points in his time was a premier race horse!
Total Earnings: $309,258.
Last Race: 7/31/2013
Sire: Benchmark
Dam: Mo Chuisle (Free House)
Other Pedigree Notables: Alydar, Deputy Minister, Danzig
Description: Bench Points is a 2008 flashy chestnut gelding by Benchmark out of a Free House mare named Mo Chuisle. Bench Points earned more than $300,000 on the race track and won the G.III Lazaro Barrera Memorial Stakes at Hollywood Park. He also competed in the 2011 Santa Anita Derby and came in third in the San Felipe Stakes.
With his gentle disposition and old pro attitude, his race trainer decided to keep him and make him a lead pony – a job he has held for three years. In this line of work, he ponied the famous champion Shared Belief at Del Mar (pictured) and taught many youngsters the ropes.
Life as a track pony isn’t the easiest job for a horse with arthritic knees and it is time for him to enjoy the next stage of his life. We believe Bench Points would make a wonderful recreational riding horse and friend.
Update Feb 2016: We are so happy to report that Bench Points now renamed “Benny” has been adopted by our longtime friend and supporter Dr. Ixchel Mosley and her daughters. This former pony horse and stakes winner is so happy to have landed in Jamul where he is fussed over and lightly ridden all over the property (weather permitting that is, sigh). Shown here is Quinn on Benny. Everyone is so happy with Benny and he is way beyond any expectations they had. Benny is so unfazed by anything thrown at him. Truly a rock solid champion and completely as advertised!!!