10/9 (KEE): Shadwell, Futurity, First Lady, TCA, Woodford

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

Maybe Gio Ponti won't win, and I'm not crazy about the race in general. But he was awfully good at a mile last year and I like cutbacks like this. There's enough speed in there for him. I wonder how the race will be bet.

It's also ridiculous to call him a grinder. The Fat Man can say that he won the Kilroe last year because Gomez s.hit the bed on Ventura, and that has some credibility but GP was excellent that day. The races he ran in the Man O War and Arl Million with quick 2-3 furlong bursts are ideal for the cutback. He's not running 11-12 furlongs simply because he's not a grinder. Can he beat Goldikova and other milers? Who knows but he should win tomorrow.

[cakes44]

I'm hoping Gio finds some trouble and runs 3rd, making him a square price in the BC. I like him much better as a miler than at 1 1/2. There's always going to be plenty of pace in the BC Mile.

[hockey2315]

I was talking this over with someone who has a better handle on the bloodstock side of things, and he brought up a good point. The only race that Gio can run in that will enhance his stud fee is the classic. If he were to run 3rd or something it would probably add like $5K to his fee.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by hockey2315

I was talking this over with someone who has a better handle on the bloodstock side of things, and he brought up a good point. The only race that Gio can run in that will enhance his stud fee is the classic. If he were to run 3rd or something it would probably add like $5K to his fee.

Isn't that basically a given?

[hockey2315]

Ya. . . it's pretty obvious. But isn't their top choice right now the mile? Seems like a waste.

[NTamm1215]

Isn't Castleton Lyons likely to stand Gio Ponti themselves? They don't exactly have a band of signature stallions right now, though Bernstein hasn't been awful.

If they are standing him then they might just want to run him where he can win. At least they'd have a fighting chance in the Mile, the Classic...not so much. I mean, that's unless he becomes Christophe Clement's best dirt horse since Dynever.

[hockey2315]

Why wouldn't they care about the fee if they were the ones standing him?

[PatCummings]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Isn't Castleton Lyons likely to stand Gio Ponti themselves? They don't exactly have a band of signature stallions right now, though Bernstein hasn't been awful.

If they are standing him then they might just want to run him where he can win. At least they'd have a fighting chance in the Mile, the Classic...not so much. I mean, that's unless he becomes Christophe Clement's best dirt horse since Dynever.

This will go over like a fart in church (irony not lost...wait for it)...

But Dynever has been an incredibly successful stallion in Saudi Arabia.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by hockey2315

I was talking this over with someone who has a better handle on the bloodstock side of things, and he brought up a good point. The only race that Gio can run in that will enhance his stud fee is the classic. If he were to run 3rd or something it would probably add like $5K to his fee.

I don't think running third in the Classic will do much for his fee unless it was a blanket finish where he got into trouble and was much the best. You arent going to convince people he is anything other than a turf horse without something really memorable. But I do believe that a win in the dirt mile would certainly greatly enhance his credentials.