News for July 2010
Castleton Lyons’ Gio Ponti proved once again why he is a champion by winning the Grade I Man o’War at Belmont Park for the second year in a row.
Following up on his exciting second-place finish to stablemate Winchester in the Grade I Manhattan on Belmont Stakes Day, Gio Ponti closed from last in the field for the victory in the 11-fulrong Man o’War on July 10.
Ridden by Ramon Dominguez, the bay son of Tale of the Cat has now won 9 stakes races, including 5 Grade I victories. Gio Ponti’s career earnings jumped above $4 million with his latest victory.
Last year, Gio Ponti won two Eclipse Awards for Shane Ryan -- top turf male and top handicap horse. His 2009 campaign culminated with a second-place finish to Zenyatta in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita.
The month of July began with a handy win from Claiborne Farm and Adele B. Dilschneider’s homebred Grassy, who will forever be remembered for coming out on the right side of a remarkable six-horse photo last year at Saratoga. Grassy, a son of El Prado, was a 2-length winner of an allowance race at Belmont Park on July 2. Ramon Dominguez patiently rode the 4-year-old who spurted clear of the field in the final furlong. The effort might have earned Grassy a spot in the Grade I Sword Dancer at Saratoga on Aug. 14
Preston Stables got the first of two wins during the month of July with Don Balcazio, a 3-year-old son of Indian Ocean. Ridden by Javier Castellano, Don Balcazio won the maiden event by 1 ¼ lengths after setting the pace in the July 8th race at Belmont Park.
Owner and breeder Sarah J. Leigh enjoyed an exciting victory with her 3-year-old gelding, Shekomeko Son, at Belmont Park on July 9. Ridden by Rajiv Maragh, Shekomeko Son had the early lead in the turf race but relinquished his advantage to Chingachgook down the backstretch. Shekomeko Son, however, was far from finished. The son of Smart Strike took aim on the new leader, Il Senatore, in the stretch for a neck win.
The same afternoon at Belmont Park, Virginia Kraft Payson’s homebred Powder Princess surged to the lead in deep stretch to win an allowance race by a neck under Alan Garcia. Powder Princess is a 4-year-old daughter of Gone West out of the Broad Brush mare Powder.
Moyglare Stud Farm’s Perfect Casting was a scene stealer on two occasions in July. On the 11th of the month, Perfect Casting won a claiming race by 2 ½ lengths under Rajiv Maragh. Thirteen days later, the Moyglare Stud homebred took his act on the road and won a claiming race at Monmouth Park. This time Joe Bravo rode the son of Diesis.
Japan-bred Wild Entry provided Preston Stables with their second victory in July. Ridden by Joe Bravo, Wild Entry won the July 11th claiming race by ¾ quarters of a length after circling the field at the top of the stretch.
Mrs. Payson also celebrated two July victories. Eight days after Powder Princess won, Ruthville, a half sister to a multiple stakes winner and millionaire trained by Christophe, Rutherienne, won a maiden-special-weight race at Philadelphia Park. Ridden by Kendrick Carmouche, the daughter of Preakness and Belmont Stakes winner Afleet Alex was a 1 ½-length winner of the grass race after displaying a nice turn of foot in the stretch.
Also on July 17, Charles and Susan Harris’ Mustang Island won a Belmont Park allowance race under jockey David Cohen. The New York-bred son of Johannesburg burst to the lead with a furlong remaining to post a half-length win.
Embroidery sewed up a victory at Suffolk Downs on July 19 for owner and breeder Catherine Wills. The 3-year-old daughter of More Than Ready was making her first start since April, and was more than willing to fire as evidenced by her nearly 3-length score under Tammi Piermarini.
Piermarini scored for the Clement Stable once again before the end of July. On July 26, first-time starter Gilded Profile won at Suffolk Downs for owner and breeder Dr. Knapp of Monticule Farm. The daughter of Belmont Stakes winner Touch Gold settled at the back of the pack before unleashing a strong kick that put 3 ¾ lengths between her and the runner-up at the finish.
Christophe finished 3rd in earnings at the conclusion of Belmont Park's spring and summer meet with 1.3 million. Well done on a solid meet, and good luck to all in Saratoga.