GIO PONTI (c. 4, Tale of the Cat – Chipeta Springs by Alydar) overcame a wide trip to win the $500,000 G1 Man O War Stakes at Belmont Park. Guided by Jockey Ramon Dominguez, GIO PONTI defeated 5 other Grade 1 winners in the field by a convincing 1 3/4 lengths, sealing the deal on his third straight Grade 1 victory. The 1 3/8 miles was a longer trip than usual for the colt, but he didn’t seem to notice as he performed in his usual professional fashion with his relaxed pace and late running kick.
“It just confirms that at the moment, I’m afraid, he’s got to be the leader of the turf division here,” said Trainer Christophe Clement. “He’s just a very nice horse. That’s the great thing about good horses, they overcome a few things.”
Lifetime: 13-8-2-0 $1,545,800
