American Champion Male Turf Horse (2009, 2010)
American Champion Older Male Horse (2009)
Sire Tale of the Cat
Grandsire Storm Cat
Dam Chipeta Springs
Damsire Alydar
Sex Stallion
Foaled 2005
Country United States
Colour Bay
Breeder Kilboy Estate
Owner Castleton Lyons
Trainer Christophe Clement
Record 29: 12-10-1
Earnings $6,169,800
Major wins
Bourbon Stakes (2007)
Hill Prince Stakes (2008)
Sir Beaufort Stakes (2008)
Virginia Derby (2008)
Manhattan Handicap (2009)
Frank E. Kilroe Mile Handicap (2009)
Man o' War Stakes (2009, 2010)
Arlington Million (2009)
Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (2010, 2011)
2nd: Breeders' Cup Classic (2009) &
Breeders' Cup Mile (2010)
April 28 – Gio Ponti
One of my all-time favorite acceptance speeches at the Eclipse Awards was given by Shane Ryan, the owner of Castleton Lyons farm and Gio Ponti.
Shane was accepting for the second consecutive year for Turf Horse of the Year and was adding Old Male Eclipse Award for his 2010 campaign. In 2009, Gio Ponti was beaten in the Breeders' Cup Classic by the undefeated super mare Zenyatta. Gio Ponti returned to racing again as a five-year-old and went back to the Breeders Cup. This time, he raced a mile on the turf to be beaten by the European super mare Goldikova.
At the Eclipse Awards, Shane joked that they lost to a filly at the Breeders' Cup, and we won an Eclipse Award. Then the next year, we went back to the Breeders' Cup and lost to another filly and won the Eclipse Award. So, next year we are just going to find the best filly at the Breeders' Cup and lose on purpose to win for the third year in a row!
Not to diminish the talent or success of Gio Ponti - he did bring home over $6 million in addition to a nice stash of Eclipse Awards.