Castleton Lyons’ GIO PONTI (Tale of the Cat) caught fire late and just got up
to deny 4-5 favorite Ventura (Chester House) in the final stride of Saturday’s
$300,000
Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1) at Santa Anita. Only fifth when failing to show
his usual turn of foot in the nine-furlong Strub S. (G2) last time out, the
Christophe Clement trainee enjoyed cutting back in trip and returning to the
grass here. Gio Ponti completed the firm-turf mile in 1:33 3/5 to chalk up his
first Grade 1 score, and in the process, joined the millionaires’ club with
$1,005,800 in earnings.
With Gio Ponti’s regular rider Garrett Gomez sticking with the mare Ventura,
Ramon Dominguez picked up the winning mount. Dominguez, who had ridden Gio Ponti
to victory in the 2007 Bourbon S., settled him near the back of the pack. Up
front, Hewitts (Concerto) rattled off fractions of :23 1/5, :46 1/5 and 1:09
4/5. Wise River (Belong to Me) applied pressure. Dixie Chatter (Dixie Union)
tracked in third, while Ventura was a ground-saving fifth. On the far turn, Dixie
Chatter advanced to challenge the dueling leaders, and Gomez angled Ventura to
the outside to prepare for the stretch drive.
The mare swept to the front and appeared to have the race at her mercy, but
she began to lean in. As Gomez worked to straighten Ventura out, Gio Ponti
erupted from the pack and rapidly gained ground. Although Ventura righted
herself and tried to stave him off, Gio Ponti was closing like the proverbial
freight train. The colt’s momentum was irresistible as he thrust his nose in
front on the line. Leaving the gate as the 5-1 second choice, Gio Ponti returned
$12.80, $5.40 and $3.60 while keying $1 exotics worth $16.90 (exacta), $99.70 (trifecta)
and $421.10 (11-1-7-9 superfecta).
“I was trying to save ground and I was trying to follow Ventura,” Dominguez
said. “She was getting a great trip and so were we. My horse is usually on the
bridle, but they were going pretty quick so he was nice and relaxed. When
Garrett asked her to go at the three-eighths, that filly just took off and I
didn’t know if I could catch her.
“I showed some emotion at the wire because I still feel bad about getting
beat on this horse in the Breeders’ Cup (Juvenile Turf, at Monmouth Park) two
years ago,” the rider added, alluding to his troubled eighth-place effort. “He
should have won that day, and today I feel vindicated.”
“Ramon rode this horse before, and that’s why we chose him,” assistant
trainer Nicholas Bachalard noted. “He knows the horse. He rode him well before.
He was unlucky with him in the Breeders’ Cup, so I knew he wanted to get
revenge.”
“I think the ground was a little softer than she liked,” Gomez suggested.
“She likes the synthetic. It’s a little firmer and gives her a little more push.
With her little feet, she kind of slips on the softer ground, and she doesn’t
quite have the huge acceleration that she really has…but she ran a very
impressive race.”
Ventura paid $3 and $2.60 for finishing three-quarters of a length ahead of
Dixie Chatter, who gave back $4.40 to show at 8-1. Global Hunter (Arg) (Jade
Hunter) finished fourth, followed by a troubled Artiste Royal (Ire) (Danehill),
Mr Napper Tandy (GB) (Bahamian Bounty), Becrux (Ity) (Glen Jordan), Victory Pete
(Five Star Day), Wise River and Hewitts. Mast Track (Mizzen Mast) and Monterey
Jazz (Thunderello) were scratched.
Gio Ponti has compiled a record of 11-6-2-0. At two, he captured the Bourbon
at Keeneland and suffered his first career loss in the aforementioned Breeders’
Cup Juvenile Turf, where he was forced to take up abruptly in traffic. Gio Ponti
added to his haul as a sophomore, scoring victories in the Virginia Derby (G2),
Hill Prince S. (G3) and Sir Beaufort S. (G3), the latter in his synthetic debut.
He also finished second in the Del Mar Derby (G2) and Jamaica H. (G2). The bay
was coming off a close fifth in the Strub, beaten a total of 1 1/2 lengths.
Bred by Kilboy Estate in Kentucky, Gio Ponti is out of the stakes-placed
Chipeta Springs (Alydar), making him a half-brother to smart three-year-old
filly Bon Jovi Girl (Malibu Moon), who romped in the Fairway Fillies S. and Blue
Hen S. last season. Chipeta Springs has also produced Fisher Pond (A.P. Indy),
winner of the 2002 Lawrence Realization H., and an unnamed juvenile colt 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).