Gio Ponti plans revenge on Man o’ War tormentor Cape Blanco in the Arlington Mile on 13 August
The Dual U.S turf champion, Gio Ponti, favourite to win the Man o’ War Stakes on 9 July at Belmont Park, got conquered by Aidan O’Brien trained Cape Blanco.
The Christophe Clement trained Gio Ponti plans revenge over Cape Blanco in a much shortened distance of 1 ¼ miles, in the $1 million Grade 1 Arlington Million at Arlington Park on 13 August.
The marathon distance in the Man o’ War Stakes at Belmont Park buried the multiple Eclipse champion, Gio Ponti.
According to trainer Christophe Clement, there aren’t any prestigious middle distance turf races during the summer season, but he is all set to run Gio Ponti back to 1 ¼ miles to take his revenge on Cape Blanco.
In the past, the son of Tale of the Cat, Gio Ponti, won the Arlington Million, two years back, and last year assumed the runners-up position in the same meet at Arlington Park.
With significant races like the 9 furlongs Grade 1 Eddie Read at Del Mar coming up on 23 July, would probably be over looked by Christophe Clement as it is too close back.
On the other hand in August the $200,000 Grade 2 Del Mar mile is scheduled for 27 August, which could be a possibility depending upon how Gio Ponti comes out of the Arlington million mile on 13 August.
Gio Ponti had won the previous two Man o’ War Stakes, but was unable to track down Cape Blanco this time around as he eluded the champion six-year-old brown horse.
Cape Blanco defeated Gio Ponti by 2 ¼ lengths in a field of six horses. This was Cape Blanco’s first win of the season and a major win too.
The four-year-old chestnut horse’s last win came in the Group 1 Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on 4 September, 2010.
At Belmont Park, Cape Blanco assumed early speed and went after the leaders at quarter-mile, it was a exchange of leads at the end of the race as Cape Blanco got rid of Gio Ponti in the final furlong and with 500 yards to spare, Cape Blanco showed how big
of an engine he has as he scooted away to victory.
The attempt to register Gio Ponti in the Arlington Million only spells revenge, as the defeat for both horse and trainer has been a little hard to swallow.
Gio Ponti has Shadwell Turf Mile in fall and Breeders’ Cup around the corner, in between falls the quarter and a mile race, the Arlington Million.
Cape Blanco, the Man o’ War Stakes winner was expected to be shipped back to Ireland after the race, but his connections revealed on 9 July that the son of Galileo will be coming back for the Arlington Mile.
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