Man o’ War Stakes 2011 at Belmont - Reigning Champion Gio Ponti looking for 3 in a row
The turf handicap division possibilities for the Christophe Clement trained, Gio Ponti, to redeem himself are wide open after his frustrating 2010 season and two discouraging outings this season.
Four wins out of five starts looks to be a new low for the champion six-year old brown horse.
All hope is not lost for the turf champion as he could make amends for a poor start for the season by landing the $600,000 Grade 1 Man o’ War Stakes, run on turf and will be run at Belmont Park on 9 July.
Gio Ponti has gone through the routine one too many times at Belmont turf course, winning the Man o’ War Stakes twice in a row, and, looking to bag the $600,000 purse, stakes race for the third time this year.
If Castleton Lyons’ Gio Ponti manages to win the Man o’ War Stakes, then the brown horse will become the first ever horse in the history to have won it three times in a row.
Gio Ponti has lived some remarkable days in his illustrious 5-year old career at the Belmont turf race course with a record of five wins. Finishing second three times and once third in nine starts at the Belmont turf course.
Overall, Gio Ponti has won 11 races out of 25 starts with 8 second place finishes and once third in his entire career.
Given odds of 2-to-1 despite not being able to win his two starts this year, Gio Ponti will be looking to turn a new leaf by winning the Man o’ War Stakes.
According to Shane Ryan, the horse’s owner and breeder, it will not be easy to win the Grade 1 classic as the race draws heavy competition but he hopes that Gio Ponti will run a good race on 9 July.
With lifetime earnings of $5,377,80 Gio Ponti entered the 2011 season with high hopes but crashed in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan UAE on 26 March, 2011.
Gio Ponti ran a powerful race and was the prominent horse on the field. He tried to close the race with 2 furlongs remaining but was held back firmly to finish 5th in the race. Defeated by Victoire Pisa by 1 ¾ lengths.
Gio Ponti’s second disappointment of the season came at Belmont Park when Mission Approved tormented the six-year old horse and kept him from winning his first race of the season. The Grade 1 Manhattan Handicap run on turf at the Belmont Park on 11 June
2011. The 1 mile 2 furlong event yielded just a 3rd place finish for Gio Ponti, finishing 1 ½ lengths behind the victor, Mission Approved.
The six-year old bay horse and his connections will not be disappointed with the season’s start, because everyone knows form is temporary but class is permanent.
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