Gio Ponti enjoys smooth sailing in off-the-turf Sir
Beaufort
The Christophe Clement pupil did not have everything handed to him on
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“We didn’t consider scratching (when the race was moved from turf to
Pro-Ride),” assistant trainer Nicholas Bachalard said. “No, never. He’s always
done well over it (training) in the morning and Chris has always wanted to run
him on it, so it was the right opportunity. I didn’t tell Garrett (Gomez)
anything. He rode the horse five times; he knew him, so we just told him to ride
it as it comes.”
“The synthetic today was a question,” Gomez said, “and I wanted to give him
an opportunity to see how he’d run over it like we know he can run over the
grass. When we turned for home, I was trying to maneuver him around and he had
other ideas about where he wanted to go, but we got it done. He’s a very
talented horse and sometimes talented horses can run on anything.”
While a patient Gomez allowed Gio Ponti to stride along unhurried at the tail
of the field, the pacesetting Icemancometh (Ire) (Marju) doled out splits of
:23, :46 2/5 and 1:10 4/5. Young Joe (Roar) was tracking in a clear second, with
Sky Cape (Najran) in third and Medjool (Monarchos) steadily improving his
position. As Icemancometh turned into the stretch, he floated well out into the
center of the track, opening up inviting pathways to his inside. Gomez steered
Gio Ponti in that direction, and his response was eye-catching. Bursting through
to take charge, he strode home an authoritative 1 1/2-length winner in a final
time of 1:34 4/5. The public’s choice returned $4.60, $3.20 and $2.80.
The 18-1 Medjool, who had briefly put his head in front of Icemancometh in
midstretch, held second by a head from the rallying El Gato Malo (El Corredor).
The runner-up gave back $11.20 and $6.20, while show paid $3.20 at 2-1. The $1
exotics totaled $31 (exacta), $110.30 (trifecta) and $507.10 (12-5-9-3
superfecta) with the 8-1 Dakota Phone (Zavata) in fourth. Icemancometh checked
in fifth, followed by Sky Cape, Pistol Pete Afleet (Northern Afleet), Young Joe
and Ten Meropa (Johannesburg). Liberian Freighter (Bertrando), Fifteen Love
(Point Given), Ghetto (GB) (Auction House) and Il Girasole (Lemon Drop Kid) were
scratched.
Gio Ponti boosted his bankroll to $820,800 from his 9-5-2-0 line. A debut
maiden winner at Belmont as a juvenile, he captured the Bourbon S. at Keeneland
in his second start. He suffered his first career loss in the 2007 Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile Turf, where he was forced to take up abruptly in traffic and wound up
eighth. Gio Ponti landed his first two starts this season, the Hill Prince S.
(G3) and the Virginia Derby (G2), before finishing second in the Del Mar Derby
(G2) and Jamaica H. (G2).
Bred by Kilboy Estate in Kentucky, Gio Ponti is out of the stakes-placed
Chipeta Springs (Alydar) and is a half-brother to Fisher Pond (A.P. Indy),
winner of the 2002 Lawrence Realization H. Chipeta Springs has also produced the
current juvenile Bon Jovi Girl, who has romped in the Fairway Fillies S. and
Blue Hen S. , and a yearling colt, both by Malibu Moon. Gio Ponti’s second dam
is Argentinean Group 1 queen Salt Spring (Arg) (Salt Marsh). This is the family
of Grade 1 victor Mongoose (Broad Brush), Grade 3 scorers Hesanoldsalt (Broad
Brush) and Puxa Saco (Dehere), and further back, two-time Horse of the Year
Cigar (Palace Music).
Bachalard indicated that Gio Ponti could stay on the Pro-Ride for the
February 7 Strub S. (G2).