Gio Ponti and the BC
 

Would you run Gio Ponti in the BC Turf or the Classic?

Classic.

Yes

Turf.

Classic, and then Dubai World Cup

a few comments all obviously "IMO" :

most importantly 10 furlongs fits GP much better than the classic turf distance of 12furlongs

Ponti will handle the pro-ride surface fine, as he like most good horses, is versatile. He is at a career peak and trying to compare previous races to gauge synthetic aptitude is misleading.

A Classic / DWC double is enticing enough that it adds appeal to the Classic itself.

i think he's the best horse not named rachel that's running right now. might as well give it a try. nothing to lose, everything to gain.

Turf.

Has a nice streak going -- why mess with a good thing? His BC Turf odds will me much lower than his BC Classic odds. His synthetic efforts were not as consistent.

Perhaps if he wins his BC prep race, he'll have wrapped up turf honors and have nothing to lose by trying Classic

tough to say for sure without seeing the probables for each race.

It would depend on whether 10f or 12f is his ideal distance. I don't like his chances at all against Conduit. I would give him a better shot if Sea The Stars stays home in the Classic but I think the Europeans will likely win both races again this year.

Right now I think there will be 3 repeat BC winners. Conduit, Forever Together, and Goldikova all look like they are much the best in their divisions.

turf sprint

Gio's form got a nice little boost tonight and it does look extremely solid. However, I can't help but feel that he'd have no chance against Goldikova and Rip Van Winkle in the mile and I wouldn't touch him against Conduit and Fane And Glory in the turf. The classic has the most upside to it! He wins, and the world is his oyster, he loses, he can go back being the most dominant US turf horse by some distance!!

There's always the BC Dirt Mile as well. He took the off-the-turf Sir Beaufort at Santa Anita last December.

Other than for monetary reasons I don't see the benefits of going to the Classic, he's not going to win HOY even if he wins it, one synth win will not affect his stud value significantly, American breeders don't really care for turf horses as stallians. I guess if the better Euro's show up in the BC, he will be up against it in the turf races, but who is to say he won't be up against it in the Classic also if we get another Raven's Pass performance.

Gio Ponti was certainly flattered yesterday when Ventura easily won the Woodbine Mile. Wow, that was very impressive and hurt those of us who bet Ferneley :(

I think Ventura is a much better horse around one turn as opposed to two turns, if I had a choice of choosing one of the 2 had Gio Ponti been at Wdb yesterday, I would have chosen Ventura. She always seems to run lights out when they are going 7-8 furlongs around one turn whereas she may hang around 2.

Funny both winners yesterday finished 2nd to Gio Ponti in recent races.

The difference, however, is that Ventura was best that day. Doubtful GP beats her going a mile with equal trips.