ATR Hall of Fame Debate: Gio Ponti?

[Calzone Lord]

English Channel won 6 Grade 1's -- including the BC Turf -- and thankfully no one thinks he deserves consideration.

Though -- he was better than Gio Ponti and Better Talk Now.

[my miss storm cat]

"... and Gio Ponti is the leader....

Interpatation trying to come back at him...

With one furlong to go...

Interpatation is a stubborn foe...

GIO PONTI HAS LOST THE LEAD!

GIO PONTI HAS LOST THE LEAD!"



I don't care either way... I'm just still so happy I got to live through that and didn't imagine it!

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

English Channel won 6 Grade 1's -- including the BC Turf -- and thankfully no one thinks he deserves consideration.

Though -- he was better than Gio Ponti and Better Talk Now.

... and Kev in three..... two...... one....

[GPK]

Running in the same race as Dinner In Odem = Auto disqualification from even having your name mentioned for the HOF.

[Calzone Lord]

IMO, for one of our turf horses to be in the Hall of Fame -- they would need to be persumed good enough that if they went to Europe they could likely emerge as the best horse campaigning there.

I think that's mainly what people voting in the poll aren't getting -- turf accomplishments are viewed with much less importance than dirt accomplishments. Historical precedence... and it's not exactly like our top class turf horses have done anything in the last 15 years that should change that discrimination.

[Merlinsky]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

IMO, for one of our turf horses to be in the Hall of Fame -- they would need to be persumed good enough that if they went to Europe they could likely emerge as the best horse campaigning there.

I think that's mainly what people voting in the poll aren't getting -- turf accomplishments are viewed with much less importance than dirt accomplishments. Historical precedence... and it's not exactly like our top class turf horses have done anything in the last 15 years that should change that discrimination.

That's exactly what my issue is. I don't know that he'd be in the absolute top tier in Europe and there've been other amazing turf horses worldwide, so what are we saying here? Comparing to other US turf horses is one thing. If you look at Goldikova, Frankel, Sea the Stars, Makybe Diva, Zarkava, Vodka ...is he in that breath and does he have to be? I know they're still leaning Mile, but I still wonder (like Haskin) whether the Classic might make a lot of sense for him. If you want to take a turfer onto a main track, I'd think this would be the place to do it, esp at the 1 1/4. I bet he could put in a terrific showing in the Mile, but you have to count on a Goldikova regression. For stallion value, for HOF status, and let's not forget for more money, there's an opportunity here for Gio Ponti in the BCC.

[DaTruth]

When I think of a Hall of Fame horse, I think of a horse that has a career that is a step above what you see from your garden variety Eclipse winner. Except for four races spread over six months in 2009, Gio Ponti has not struck me as a dominant runner. He runs a big race here and there, but his PPs are peppered with a lot of second and third place finishes. Assuming each horse brought their "A" game, Gio Ponti would have had his hands full if he had faced the likes of Sunshine Forever, Steinlen, Star of Cozzene, Paradise Creek, and Kotashaan, and I don't consider any of those to be Hall of Fame horses.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

When I think of a Hall of Fame horse, I think of a horse that has a career that is a step above what you see from your garden variety Eclipse winner. Except for four races spread over six months in 2009, Gio Ponti has not struck me as a dominant runner. He runs a big race here and there, but his PPs are peppered with a lot of second and third place finishes. Assuming each horse brought their "A" game, Gio Ponti would have had his hands full if he had faced the likes of Sunshine Forever, Steinlen, Star of Cozzene, Paradise Creek, and Kotashaan, and I don't consider any of those to be Hall of Fame horses.

Every one of those horses you just named would have slaughtered GP, except for maybe Sunshine Forever.

Kotashaan probably should have been a HOF horse.