| Gio Ponti | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Tale of the Cat |
| Grandsire | Storm Cat |
| Dam | Chipeta Springs |
| Damsire | Alydar |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 2005 |
| Country | United States |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Kilboy Estate |
| Owner | Castleton Lyons |
| Trainer | Christophe Clement |
| Record | 29: 12-10-1 |
| Earnings | $6,169,800 |
| Major wins | |
| Bourbon Stakes (2007) Hill Prince Stakes (2008) Sir Beaufort Stakes (2008) Virginia Derby (2008) Manhattan Handicap (2009) Frank E. Kilroe Mile Handicap (2009) Man o' War Stakes (2009, 2010) Arlington Million (2009) Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (2010, 2011) |
|
| Awards | |
| American Champion Male Turf Horse (2009, 2010) American Champion Older Male Horse (2009) |
|
| Horse (Equus ferus caballus) | |
| Last updated on March 25, 2010 | |
Gio Ponti (foaled Feb 28, 2005 in Kentucky) is a United States race horse and a specialist on the turf course. He was sired by Tale of the Cat, a son of Storm Cat, out of the stakes-placed Alydar mare Chipeta Springs, making him half-brother to stakes-winner Fisher Pond. Gio Ponti is owned by Castleton Lyons, trained by Christophe Clement, [1]
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Named for a well known Italian artist and architect,[2], Gio Pointi became one of the best American turf horses of all time. Only when Gio Ponti began racing in the silks of Shane Ryan's Castleton Lyons Farm under Trainer Christophe Clement did he first emerge. He broke his maiden in his first start as a two year old at Belmont Park defeating the rest of the field by a solid 2½ lengths. Showing so much promise, he was entered in the Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland in his second start, where he won easily to gain his first stakes win of his career. After an unplaced effort in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf due to less than ideal conditions and traffic problems, he was given time off to prepare for his 3 year old campaign.
As a 3 year old, Gio Ponti gained graded stakes success in the G3 Hill Prince Stakes at Belmont, the G2 Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs, and the G3 Sir Beaufort Stakes at Santa Anita. He was also runner up in the G2 Del Mar Derby at Del Mar and the G2 Jamaica Handicap at Belmont. By the end of his three year old year he had $820,800 in career earnings over the turf and synthetic surfaces.
The bay colt dominated his four year old campaign, winning four consecutive Grade One races: the Frank E. Kilroe Mile Handicap, the Manhattan Handicap,the Man o' War Stakes, and the Arlington Million, thus making him one of the favorites for the Breeders' Cup Turf. After a stunning upset[3] in the Turf Classic Invitational, his owners decided to point him towards the Breeders' Cup Classic instead, which was run at a more favorable distance of 1¼ mile, as opposed to the Turf's 1½ mile distance. Although he ran a winning race, he was beaten by the undefeated mare Zenyatta.[4]
Shortly after the Breeders' Cup Classic, Gio Ponti's connections announced he would remain in training for 2010 and be pointed toward the Dubai World Cup. However, he started the year with a second in the Tampa Bay stakes. In the Dubai World Cup, after having a good ride till the stretch, he was boxed in and had to go into the far outside, earning fourth.[5]
In 2010, Gio Ponti had run an overall good season. He returned to The U.S. to Belmont Park where he won second in the Manhattan Handicap, and first in the Man O' War Stakes. He then ran in the Arlington Million, but loss to Debussy. He then went to Keeneland Racetrack in Lexington Kentucky, where he won easily in a hand ride under jockey Ramon A. Dominguez in the Shadwell Turf Mile, earning a spot in the Breeders Cup with a "Win and You're In" race title. In the 2010 Breeders Cup Turf Mile, Gio Ponti ran second to a female again, only this time it was to Goldikova. As Clement once put it, "He is very well educated - ladies first." His efforts though earned him the title of Eclipse Male Turf champion. This was his second straight win.
Gio Ponti went on to have another successful year in 2011, winning the Grade 1 Shadwell Mile and finishing second in the Arlington Million and Man O War before finishing 4th in his fourth Breeder's Cup. Gio Ponti broke 6.1 million dollars in 28 starts, becoming one of the richest thoroughbreds in America all time.
| Sire Tale of the Cat |
Storm Cat | Storm Bird | Northern Dancer |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Ocean | |||
| Terlingua | Secretariat | ||
| Crimson Saint | |||
| Yarn | Mr. Prospector | Raise A Native | |
| Gold Digger | |||
| Narrate | Honest Pleasure | ||
| State | |||
| Dam Chipeta Springs |
Alydar | Raise A Native | Native Dancer |
| Raise You | |||
| Sweet Tooth | On-and-On | ||
| Plum Cake | |||
| Salt Spring (ARG) | Salt Marsh | Tom Rolfe | |
| Saline | |||
| Jungle Mythologic (ARG) | Mount Athos (GB) | ||
| Jungle Queen (ARG) |