HOTY: Making the case for Gio Ponti

In the midst of all the publicity of the super filly in Rachel Alexandra and the spectacular mare in Zenyatta, one thoroughbred quietly dominates the turf world in a very big manner. With each race he runs in, he shuts up his critics and does things only an extraordinary racehorse can accomplish. The two female stars may own most of 2009, but Gio Ponti certainly poses as a threat to their year-end Horse of the Year honors.

Gio Ponti is an amazing horse. I first laid eyes on him at my local track at Colonial Downs. My family and I was there for our annual Virginia Derby, a racing day that I always feel as the closest thing I can get to for my own Kentucky Derby. I love the Virginia Derby. I have seen many awesome horses such as Kitten's Joy, English Channel, Go Between (so sad that he died tragically), and Red Giant run here and carry on our Virginia Derby banner every time they win races. I remember the critics saying that he couldn't win the race because of distance limitations. Of course, I was rooting for a Virginia-bred in the race, who by the way was the longest shot on the board and hasn't done much since then, but I also wanted Gio Ponti to win. I love his sire, Tale of the Cat, because he sired another favorite horse of mine in Lion Heart. So the pedigree connections seemed satisfying to my standards. Needless to say, he won, and as they all say, the rest is history.

Indeed, he keeps making history. Gio Ponti started off the year by returning to the races in the Strub S. (GI) at Santa Anita in February on the synthetic main track. Unfortunately, he didn't fare well, which might have resulted in his connections to bring him back to his winning surface in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (GI) on the turf at Santa Anita in March. In this particular race, not only did he deny the amazing mare Ventura a chance of victory, but he defeated the aforementioned odds on favorite by a nose. In the reign of spectacular racing female horses throughout most of 2009, Gio Ponti rose to the occasion to defeat one of them by the bravest way and the narrowest of margins.

From March to August, the four-year-old son of Tale of the Cat has proved that he is no ordinary horse. He has accomplished feats that even his most loud-mouth critics become silenced with each win. He has won four grade one races, all ranging from different distances (eight to eleven furlongs) and tracks (Santa Anita, Belmont Park, and Arlington Park), equaling to that of Rachel Alexandra's four-string grade ones at present. He has also faced a diversity of opponents, while also facing a very challenging effort against the opposite gender, just as Rachel Alexandra has done in the Preakness S. (GI) and the Haskell Invitational (GI). Gio Ponti also ran and won on synthetic surfaces, just like the synthetic surface specialist in Zenyatta. He truly is a remarkable horse.

One thing that separates him from the two dominating females of the Sport of Kings is that he has done something that they haven't done themselves. He has faced competition not of the North American contingent. I'm talking about the Europeans. Albeit, they weren't the best European horses, but they ran in the Arlington Million (GI) nonetheless, their connections believing that they could win the most prestigious grass event in America. Gio Ponti was facing Cima de Triomphe (a son of Galileo and the winner of the group one Italian Derby) and Stotsfold (a grandson of Sadlers Wells and a winner of two group three racing events, one of which is the distance of the Arlington Million). European horses’ best surface is the grass, and just because you face against a lower tier of them, doesn't mean they are not good runners. Gio Ponti overcame adversity (he stumbled at the start) and diversity (facing long distance and front runner specialist in Presious Passion, multiple surface winner sensational in Einstein, and European grass experts), and neither is he ducking the competition. With each race his connections prepare him for and run him in, he continues to improve with each new challenge he faces.

Times and best Beyer speed figures aren't the ones that win races and racing glory. It's always who is the best horse at the right time on that particular racing day. And each time, Gio Ponti has been the best horse. It is still early yet to determine who is the ultimate victor of the Horse of the Year honors, but the way it is playing out so far, I can see it like this:

With the connections of Rachel Alexandra passing on the Breederscup, and the Zenyatta camp most likely sticking her with her own gender, the group surrounding Gio Ponti aren't so limited. He can run either in the Turf or the Classic. A win in either one could help solidify his chances as the Horse of the Year. Not only will he be facing diversity but also adversity, and never ducking away from the competition.

If Gio Ponti continues on the route to the Breederscup Turf, the next possible starts:
September 20th, Northern Dancer Turf (GI) at Woodbine, 12 furlongs
or
October 3rd, Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (GI) at Belmont Park, 12 furlongs
or
October 11th, Clement L. Hirsch Turf (GI) at Oak Tree, 10 furlongs

If Gio Ponti guns for the Breederscup Classic, the next possible starts:
September 6th, Pacific Classic (GI) at Del Mar, 10 furlongs
and/ or
October 1oth, Goodwood S. (GI) at Oak Tree, 9 furlongs

Note: I only picked out the remaining grade one races as possible stepping stones for either path to the Breederscup.

Either way, if Gio Ponti wins all races considered for any direction his connections desire, that’s an awfully impressive resume for a potential candidate of Horse of the Year, and one that should be well considered for such an honor.

COMING UP…
HOTY: Rachel Alexandra the Great?...

A look at the dominating, superstar colt in Sea the Stars…

And…

Will Rachel Alexandra face the same group of three-year-old boys she’s been beating up again and again to finally solidify her dominance over the three-year-old crop? Will Quality Road be the only colt to finally end her supremacy? Or will the hard knocking Kentucky Derby winner be reborn from his recent surgery? Stay tuned for the Midsummer Derby, the Travers S. (GI) this weekend at Saratoga!

Cheers!