10/30 Notes: Rumors have Gio Ponti leaning to lawn

[brockguy]

Originally Posted by Scav

It is pretty impossible to win one of these right, because there are guys that ride two tracks, afternoon and night, and commute all over the place?

yep Ryan Moore was fully expected to win it this year but was out for a while this year and that has opened it up to the relatively unheralded Paul Hanagan and Richard Hughes to win the title.

Ryan Moore might actually be a good fit for Paco (and has ridden him a few times before!). Im am hoping to God they actually try to put Paco in the race earlier than normal to try to get first run on Goldi and with Moore on board, they might just do it..

On the topic of Gio Ponti, I will be delighted if he takes money in the Mile.

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by brockguy

On the topic of Gio Ponti, I will be delighted if he takes money in the Mile.

Be careful what you wish for.

As a son of Tale of the Cat, I've always thought that a mile is Gio Ponti's best distance. After he won the Kilroe Mile last year (defeating eventual Woodbine Mile heroine Ventura), and in the absence of top mile races here, Clement took a chance that he could get 10F in the Manhattan against a relatively weak group, and he succeeded. They then became committed to a "distance" (by US standards) campaign with the horse.

His recent win in the Shadwell Mile was very impressive; he'll get plenty of pace with Sidney's Candy and Get Stormy in the field; and he has perhaps the best turf rider in Dominguez aboard. Compared to the likes of a past-his-prime Kip Deville and Whatsthescript (2008) and Cowboy Cal and Courageous Cat (2009), Gio Pinti will certainly present the most formidable American opponent that Goldikova has faced in her three Breeders' Cup tries.

[VOL JACK]

Kip Deville was every bit as formidable as Gio Ponti.

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by VOL JACK

Kip Deville was every bit as formidable as Gio Ponti.

Not in 2008. He was coming into the BC that year off a bad 5th at 1-2 in the Woodbine Mile behind Rahy's Attorney and Ventura.

[brockguy]

Originally Posted by parsixfarms

Be careful what you wish for.

As a son of Tale of the Cat, I've always thought that a mile is Gio Ponti's best distance. After he won the Kilroe Mile last year (defeating eventual Woodbine Mile heroine Ventura), and in the absence of top mile races here, Clement took a chance that he could get 10F in the Manhattan against a relatively weak group, and he succeeded. They then became committed to a "distance" (by US standards) campaign with the horse.

His recent win in the Shadwell Mile was very impressive; he'll get plenty of pace with Sidney's Candy and Get Stormy in the field; and he has perhaps the best turf rider in Dominguez aboard. Compared to the likes of a past-his-prime Kip Deville and Whatsthescript (2008) and Cowboy Cal and Courageous Cat (2009), Gio Pinti will certainly present the most formidable American opponent that Goldikova has faced in her three Breeders' Cup tries.

Ive been wrong on countless occasions and will pay for it if Gio wins but I would be surprised.

I don't think he is as good as he was last year.

I don't think a mile is his best distance and I always prefer horses to be running at or slightly more than optimum trip.

and I dont think he was that impressive last time out.

I think Proviso has a better shot than he does and I hate Proviso here!!!

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by brockguy

Ive been wrong on countless occasions and will pay for it if Gio wins but I would be surprised.

I don't think he is as good as he was last year.

I don't think a mile is his best distance and I always prefer horses to be running at or slightly more than optimum trip.

and I dont think he was that impressive last time out.

I think Proviso has a better shot than he does and I hate Proviso here!!!

Proviso is working really well and I give her a chance to upset this thing.

[hockey2315]

Gio is officially going in the mile.

[RockHardTen1985]

This sounds shitty....

Sidney's Candy (Mile, five furlongs in 1:00.89): California invader was very aggressive leaving the pole and had to be given a left-handed tap of the whip to keep from lugging into the cones when he began to take a bit of an erratic path near the eighth pole. He finished and galloped out willingly enough under some late encouragement, but he just doesn't give the impression he's going to be able to carry his speed the distance against the quality group he will encounter in the Mile.

[chucklestheclown]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

This sounds shitty....

Sidney's Candy (Mile, five furlongs in 1:00.89): California invader was very aggressive leaving the pole and had to be given a left-handed tap of the whip to keep from lugging into the cones when he began to take a bit of an erratic path near the eighth pole. He finished and galloped out willingly enough under some late encouragement, but he just doesn't give the impression he's going to be able to carry his speed the distance against the quality group he will encounter in the Mile.

I have no doubt that somebody said this; the question is, who was it? As much as I respect the horse I think Sadler has done terribly by him and the fact his sale isn't finalized yet (to my knowledge) leads me to believe I'm not the only one having second thoughts about a once-fine colt. I won't put a penny on him unless he's post 3 or 4.

Who are you quoting?

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by parsixfarms

Be careful what you wish for.

As a son of Tale of the Cat, I've always thought that a mile is Gio Ponti's best distance. After he won the Kilroe Mile last year (defeating eventual Woodbine Mile heroine Ventura), and in the absence of top mile races here, Clement took a chance that he could get 10F in the Manhattan against a relatively weak group, and he succeeded. They then became committed to a "distance" (by US standards) campaign with the horse.

His recent win in the Shadwell Mile was very impressive; he'll get plenty of pace with Sidney's Candy and Get Stormy in the field; and he has perhaps the best turf rider in Dominguez aboard. Compared to the likes of a past-his-prime Kip Deville and Whatsthescript (2008) and Cowboy Cal and Courageous Cat (2009), Gio Pinti will certainly present the most formidable American opponent that Goldikova has faced in her three Breeders' Cup tries.

Come on. He's the best of a dreadful group of U.S. turf horses. His Shadwell wasn't very impressive, it was fine. He'd have to put in an easy lifetime best to beat Goldikova and Paco Boy and if he's under 10-1, that's a bad bet.

[hockey2315]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

Come on. He's the best of a dreadful group of U.S. turf horses. His Shadwell wasn't very impressive, it was fine. He'd have to put in an easy lifetime best to beat Goldikova and Paco Boy and if he's under 10-1, that's a bad bet.

Really?

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by hockey2315

Really?

What the hell was so impressive about it? He beat freaking Society's Chairman by a length and ran slower than Proviso.

[hockey2315]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

What the hell was so impressive about it? He beat freaking Society's Chairman by a length and ran slower than Proviso.

Maybe your opinion of Gio stems in part from your feelings about Proviso. . . I don't share your view of her. Gio couldn't really have done it any easier and got another overconfident ride from Ramon. You know the margin doesn't matter there - he came home extremely quick and got up comfortably.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by hockey2315

Maybe your opinion of Gio stems in part from your feelings about Proviso. . . I don't share your view of her. Gio couldn't really have done it any easier and got another overconfident ride from Ramon. You know the margin doesn't matter there - he came home extremely quick and got up comfortably.

They're both the best of bad divisions and are outclassed by Goldikova and Paco Boy. You don't agree with this?

[blackthroatedwind]

I thought Gio Ponti's win at Keeneland was decidedly mediocre.