Gio Ponti, the reigning Eclipse champion as top turf
male, breezed five furlongs on the turf this morning as he prepares for the
Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap on Belmont Stakes day.
“Gio Ponti is on course for the Manhattan,” trainer Christophe Clement
proclaimed. “He will work again next weekend. I am very happy with the way he
went.”
The nation’s top turf male in 2009 and 2010 and top older
male in 2009, Gio Ponti covered the five furlongs in 1:01.12 around the dogs
over a firm turf course. It was his third work since finishing fifth, beaten
less than two lengths in the Dubai World Cup on March 26 in his only start of
2011.