ATR Hall of Fame Debate: Gio Ponti?

[FATPIANO]

Originally Posted by paulo537

7 G1 wins

14 G1 turf starts with 7 wins.

4 G1 turf starts at 1 Mile. 3 wins. One 2nd to Goldikova.

SW at ages 2,3,4,5,6.

GSW at ages 3,4,5,6

G1 winner at ages 4,5,6

What other horses have NOT made the HoF with 7 Grade 1 wins?

I'd vote yes.

Just curious 14 G1 turf starts withh 7 wins, How many times did he come in 2nd? Hall of Fame..ABSOLUTELY

[Cannon Shell]

Has Gio Ponti ever beaten a horse that won a year-end championship or has a remote chance of being considered a HoF horse?

I dont know anyone who would call him a great horse. Shouldn't that count for something? I still think it is hard to a specialist to campaign through their 6 year old year, never win a BC race and be considered HoF worthy. While it is commendable that he continued to run that long the HoF used to be about truly great horses.

[KirisClown]

How can Gio Ponti be in the Hall of Fame when a horse like Lure is not?

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by KirisClown

How can Gio Ponti be in the Hall of Fame when a horse like Lure is not?

One thing in Gio Ponti's meager favor is that he's a multiple Eclipse champion (Lure won no championships), a rare one at that. He's one of only 3 or 4 that have won back-to-back turf titles, and he's the only horse to win the older male Eclipse without having won a race on dirt.

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

and he's the only horse to win the older male Eclipse without having won a race on dirt.

Kodiak Kowboy and Einstein (I believe) -- where the two other finalists that year.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

Kodiak Kowboy and Einstein (I believe) -- where the two other finalists that year.

Unfortunately, Einstein didn't win a race on dirt, either. Something that year must have won at least 2 graded stakes over a route of ground somewhere?

[Cannon Shell]

Sky Classic might have a better resume
Paradise Creek was a better horse

[OldDog]

Gio Ponti no second fiddle

Thoroughbred stars are anointed often prematurely at ages 2 and 3 and are too often sent to stud before the depth of their ability if fully realized. Grass horses come into their own with maturity and American breeders are attempting to produce Derby winners not turf champions.

"He raced in the Breeders' Cup as a 2-year-old," said trainer Christophe Clement, the Frenchman who has engineered Gio Ponti's career without interruption since its beginning. "He's 6 now, and he's still competing in the Breeders' Cup. That doesn't happen very often."

http://espn.go.com/horse-racing/stor...-second-fiddle