By 3 p.m. today, less than 24 hours after his second consecutive victory in the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1), multiple champion Gio Ponti is scheduled to be on a plane for a return trip to trainer Christophe Clement’s Belmont Park base.
“He’s a New Yorker like me,” Clement said. “He wants to get back home.”
With
Ramon Dominguez aboard, Gio Ponti caught Get Stormy, winner of the
Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) here in April, in deep stretch to win the
Shadwell Turf Mile by a half-length. Many of the 26,003 Keeneland fans
showed their appreciation for the performance by cheering Gio Ponti and
Dominguez as they returned on the main track after the race and headed
to the infield winner’s circle. They cheered Gio Ponti again as he was
led before the grandstand back to Clement’s barn.
“I
don’t think I’ve ever seen that,” Clement said of the fans’ reception.
“A lot of the credit has to go to my owner, Shane Ryan, for keeping Gio
Ponti in training. The fans get to know these horses.”
In
October 2007, Gio Ponti was two when he first raced at Keeneland and
won the Bourbon, now a Grade 3 race that is being renewed today.
Yesterday’s win was worth $360,000, boosting Gio Ponti’s career earnings
to $6,049,800. He has 12 wins in 28 career starts. Twenty-three of his
starts have come on turf, where he has 11 wins, nine seconds and one
third.
“I
just think he runs faster, and I really mean that,” Clement said when
asked about what has made Gio Ponti so successful. “His main attribute -
he’s six years old - we’ve been able to keep him sound, which is a big
deal. As long as you can keep him sound, he takes care of the running.
“He’s
been great to all of us – my owner, my staff, myself. It’s very
exciting. We go to the Breeders’ Cup, and it’s fun to play at that
level. He’ll be very difficult to replace. I have to enjoy him because I
know it’s going to be awhile before I get another one.”
The
Shadwell Turf Mile is most likely Gio Ponti’s final appearance at
Keeneland as his next start is expected to be the final race of his
career. With yesterday’s victory, he secured a berth in the TVG
Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) to be run November 5 at Churchill Downs
(although his connections might choose to run him in the Grade 1
Breeders’ Cup Classic). Gio Ponti was second in the Mile last year to
European superstar Goldikova (IRE).
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