Grade 1 Man o’War winner and dual Eclipse Award winner Gio
Ponti headed a quartet of notable works for trainer Christophe Clement this
morning, covering five furlongs in 1:01.06 around the dogs over the firm inner
turf. Also going for Clement were Grade 1 Manhattan winner and Grade 2 Bowling
Green runner-up Winchester (5f, 1:01.55, turf); Funny Moon, most
recently third in the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap behind Life At Ten (5f,
1:01.55), and Grassy, who was seventh in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer (5f,
1:01.19, turf) and was among those newly extended an invitation to the Joe
Hirsch.
“They all went very well and I am absolutely delighted,”
said Clement.
Gio Ponti is among the original invitees to the Grade 1 Joe
Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational next Saturday, while Funny Moon is among those
invited to the Grade 1 Beldame.
“The Beldame is a bit quick back for her, so I do not know,”
said Clement.
Also working on the turf Sunday were Get Stormy (5f,
1:00.24), Keertana (5f, 1:02.67) and Maram (4f, 49.18), with other
notable works including Buddy’s Saint (4f, 48.90), Convocation
(5f, 1:01.60), Haynesfield (4f, 49.37), Ibboyee (4f, 48.50), Uncle
T Seven (4f, 48.44, training track), Friend Or Foe (5f, 1:00.07,
bullet, training track) and Interpatation (5f, 1:02.47).