Gio Ponti Confirmed for the BC Mile

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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt

Gio Ponti will run in the Breeders' Cup Mile.
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Shane Ryan, president of Castleton Lyons, announced Oct. 27 that Gio Ponti   will run in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. IT) rather than the Classic (gr. I) at Churchill Downs Nov. 5.

“Having discussed the options with Christophe Clement we both feel that we should aim Gio Ponti for the Mile, as eight furlongs looks to be his perfect distance given his impressive repeat victory in the Shadwell Mile (gr. IT) at Keeneland,” said Ryan of the multiple Eclipse Award winner in a release.

Gio Ponti, with exercise rider Jerry Fogarty up, worked five furlongs in company over the inner turf in 1:02 Oct. 26 at Churchill in preparation for the Breeders’ Cup. The 6-year-old son of Tale of the Cat   will enter the Mile off a record of 12-10-1 from 28 starts, with earnings of more than $6 million.

In 2009, Gio Ponti was runner-up to Zenyatta in the Classic and last year finished second to Goldikova in the Mile.

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