8/8 (AP): Arlington Million (G1); Beverly D (G1); Secretariat (G1)

Travis Stone · #1 08-08-2009, 04:54 PM

I think there's a new horse in the race for Horse of the Year as well.

philcski · #2 08-08-2009, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

I think there's a new horse in the race for Horse of the Year as well.

Gio Ponti? Great horse, I really like him, but turf horses don't win HOTY unless they're named John Henry.

Realistically, Rachel has this about wrapped up.

letswastemoney · #3 08-08-2009, 05:01 PM

They could try the synthetic Classic if they want to go for HOY

booner · #4 08-08-2009, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philcski

Gio Ponti? Great horse, I really like him, but turf horses don't win HOTY unless they're named John Henry.

Realistically, Rachel has this about wrapped up.

I agree.

But Gio Ponti is the hottest horse on the lawn right now (did I just state the obvious?

).

Travis Stone · #5 08-08-2009, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philcski

Gio Ponti? Great horse, I really like him, but turf horses don't win HOTY unless they're named John Henry.

Realistically, Rachel has this about wrapped up.

I agree and you're right, but there are a lot of things that could happen between now and then not just for him, but Rachel as well. Lots of ifs, but it's interesting none-the-less.

NTamm1215 · #6 08-08-2009, 05:12 PM

Gio Ponti would have a chance at HOTY in most other years. I do think they need to give some consideration to running him in the Classic.

I really don't think his accomplishments are appreciated for what they are in that winning 4 Grade Is in a row at three different tracks ranging from the putting green turf at SA at a mile to the softer going at Arlington and Belmont to the firm course where he raced five wide basically the entire way.

I think it's great to see Christophe Clement have such a great horse too. By the way, does anyone know why Indian Charlie (the indiancharlie.com satirist not our resident satirist) hates CC so much?

NT

Cannon Shell · #7 08-08-2009, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

I think it's great to see Christophe Clement have such a great horse too. By the way, does anyone know why Indian Charlie (the indiancharlie.com satirist not our resident satirist) hates CC so much?

NT

Ever met him?

CSC · #8 08-08-2009, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

I agree and you're right, but there are a lot of things that could happen between now and then not just for him, but Rachel as well. Lots of ifs, but it's interesting none-the-less.

I think there's a ways to go, the BC can alter alot of opinions. At the moment RA is the obvious choice but if she loses in the BC surmising she will indeed go then all bets are off for HOY assuming Gio Ponti wins. Alot of if's in the equation I know.

King Glorious · #9 08-08-2009, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philcski

Gio Ponti? Great horse, I really like him, but turf horses don't win HOTY unless they're named John Henry.

Realistically, Rachel has this about wrapped up.

Or Kotashaan or All Along.

King Glorious · #10 08-08-2009, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

I think there's a new horse in the race for Horse of the Year as well.

HOY is a longshot for him because of the two girls but he's probably locked up the grass male title and with the BC being on synthetic, what if he were to win the Goodwood and Classic. When is the last time a horse won older male and grass championships in the same year? John Henry?

Travis Stone · #11 08-08-2009, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Glorious

HOY is a longshot for him because of the two girls

The way I see it:

Rachel Alexandra: 4 G1 wins (Female beating males 2x trumps all)
Gio Ponti: 4 G1 wins
Zenyatta: 1 G1 1 win, 1 G2 win

Zenyatta has lots of catching-up to do for mid-August.

Danzig · #12 08-08-2009, 06:34 PM

zenyatta has to either face rachel or face males and win to get HOY at this point. as for gio ponti, since there are main track alternatives, i don't think he has a shot at HOY. turfers just don't get the respect.

NTamm1215 · #13 08-08-2009, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

The way I see it:

Rachel Alexandra: 4 G1 wins (Female beating males 2x trumps all)
Gio Ponti: 4 G1 wins
Zenyatta: 1 G1 1 win, 1 G2 win

Zenyatta has lots of catching-up to do for mid-August.

You know how I feel about Gio Ponti but his 4 GI wins have nowhere near the weight that Rachel's do.

If her 2009 campaign were to be over right now the only way GP wins HOTY is if Zenyatta stays in the berry patch division and wins the Distaff and he wins the Classic.

There's not a turf race coming up worth running him in so I'd point him to the Goodwood and if he runs well there then go to the Classic.

NT

CSC · #14 08-08-2009, 06:45 PM

Will Gio Ponti try synth? At this stage I would say why not. The current state of the older division is not overwhelming at the moment that it wouldn' take a leap of form for him to be competitive.

randallscott35 · #15 08-08-2009, 06:50 PM

Euros they brought over stink. Where's Conduit when you need him.

CSC · #16 08-08-2009, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randallscott35

Euros they brought over stink. Where's Conduit when you need him.

I posted prior to The Arlington Million to adjust picks accordingly when the ground was obviously on the slow side, Cima probably needs firmer going to be more effective however that is to take nothing away from Gio Ponti, he was very good today and has run 2 crackers in a row to borrow a Vic Stauffer line.

Travis Stone · #17 08-08-2009, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

You know how I feel about Gio Ponti but his 4 GI wins have nowhere near the weight that Rachel's do.

If her 2009 campaign were to be over right now the only way GP wins HOTY is if Zenyatta stays in the berry patch division and wins the Distaff and he wins the Classic.

There's not a turf race coming up worth running him in so I'd point him to the Goodwood and if he runs well there then go to the Classic.

NT

As of right now, no, Rachel has the edge, but remember Rachel is going to stop before the Breeders' Cup (or at this point, not run) which will produce a yet-to-be-determined reaction from voters. This is all speculating but there are numerous outcomes which can make it interesting.

Regardless, it's cool that Gio Ponti is doing what he's doing while the dirt elders are winning their first G1's in our most prestigious races.

King Glorious · #18 08-08-2009, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

As of right now, no, Rachel has the edge, but remember Rachel is going to stop before the Breeders' Cup (or at this point, not run) which will produce a yet-to-be-determined reaction from voters. This is all speculating but there are numerous outcomes which can make it interesting.

Regardless, it's cool that Gio Ponti is doing what he's doing while the dirt elders are winning their first G1's in our most prestigious races.

Mineshaft, Point Given, Charismatic, Holy Bull, Criminal Type, Spend a Buck, and John Henry all won HOY without running in the BC and a Smarty Jones would have if not for Ghostzapper's Classic win. It's unfortunate because I agree with what I think is your opinion of Gio Ponti. He's faced and beaten better than she has and in most years, would be a prime candidate. But she's done more than just win races. She's captured the imagination and that's worth a few more wins. It's going to take something really special to overtake her and I don't know that what he'd need is available out there, especially if she were to do something like win the Woodward or the Travers.

RockHardTen1985 · #19 08-08-2009, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Glorious

Mineshaft, Point Given, Charismatic, Holy Bull, Criminal Type, Spend a Buck, and John Henry all won HOY without running in the BC and a Smarty Jones would have if not for Ghostzapper's Classic win. It's unfortunate because I agree with what I think is your opinion of Gio Ponti. He's faced and beaten better than she has and in most years, would be a prime candidate. But she's done more than just win races. She's captured the imagination and that's worth a few more wins. It's going to take something really special to overtake her and I don't know that what he'd need is available out there, especially if she were to do something like win the Woodward or the Travers.

IMO, If Zenyatta were to win the Pacific Classic and the BCC nothing Rachel does would matter, as far as horse of the year.

Cannon Shell · #20 08-08-2009, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Glorious

Mineshaft, Point Given, Charismatic, Holy Bull, Criminal Type, Spend a Buck, and John Henry all won HOY without running in the BC and a Smarty Jones would have if not for Ghostzapper's Classic win. It's unfortunate because I agree with what I think is your opinion of Gio Ponti. He's faced and beaten better than she has and in most years, would be a prime candidate. But she's done more than just win races. She's captured the imagination and that's worth a few more wins. It's going to take something really special to overtake her and I don't know that what he'd need is available out there, especially if she were to do something like win the Woodward or the Travers.

Who has Gio Ponti beat this year that is so good?