Printer Friendly Page 

Winchester shoots down Gio Ponti in Manhattan

Winchester parlayed a perfect trip into an upset of the troubled Gio Ponti (Jim Tyrrell/Horsephotos.com) It wasn't supposed to be surprising that trainer Christophe Clement visited the winner's circle after Saturday's $400,000 Manhattan H. (G1), since his dual Eclipse Award winner Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat) was even-money to defend his title in the turf test at Belmont Park. But after a cavalry charge of a stretch run, it was Clement's other runner, the 21-1 WINCHESTER (Theatrical [Ire]), who rattled home on the outside to defeat Gio Ponti by a half-length. A homebred campaigned by Mr. and Mrs. Bertram R. Firestone, Winchester was earning his first stakes victory since his 7 1/4-length demolition job in the 2008 Secretariat S. (G1) for former trainer Dermot Weld. The bay subsequently endured an eight-race losing streak, the first two for Weld and the next six since joining Clement for his 2009 campaign. Clement dropped him back into allowance company last out on April 21 at Keeneland, and Winchester responded by charging to a half-length decision. That confidence booster apparently did wonders for Winchester, who had never managed to win two straight races before, but did so on Saturday.

With new rider Cornelio Velasquez aboard, Winchester was held up near the back of the pack, in proximity to Gio Ponti and just ahead of Court Vision (Gulch), with Grand Couturier (GB) (Grand Lodge) at the tail. Up front, Jet Propulsion (Double Honor) was enjoying an uncontested lead through fractions of :23 4/5, :48 4/5 and 1:12 4/5. Take the Points (Even the Score), who had been tracking the pace, ranged up to accost the leader while reaching the mile in 1:36 2/5.

Although Take the Points pulled away and opened up in midstretch, the closers were on the march. A full-bore scrum erupted inside the final furlong, and the Manhattan looked completely up for grabs. Gio Ponti, who had been steadied abruptly on the far turn, regrouped along the rail, while Expansion (Maria's Mon), Just as Well (A.P. Indy), Court Vision and Pinckney Hill (A.P. Indy) were all in the firing line.

Gio Ponti put his head in front, but his advantage was short-lived. Winchester came with a raking run widest of all to spring the upset in a final time of 1:59 2/5 for 1 1/4 miles on the firm inner turf. The five-year-old rewarded his loyalists with mutuels of $44.80, $14.20 and $9, and he fueled the gaudy exotics totaling $147 (exacta), $2,675 (trifecta) and $13,234 (4-1-11-5 superfecta).

"He had a good, stable position," Velasquez said. "I saw there was traffic on the inside, so I decided to go outside. He probably had the best trip in the race."

"He ran a great race, and I am delighted," Clement said. "Gio Ponti was pinned inside. I'm very happy with the two horses. The two horses worked remarkably together last Sunday. Winchester comes from far out of it; I thought softer ground would serve him well, but for some reason horses are coming from out of it today."

Gio Ponti, making his first start back since a commendable fourth in the March 27 Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1), paid $3.50 and $2.80 for finishing second by one length.

Ramon Dominguez, Gio Ponti's regular rider, described his trip.

"I don't know what happened to (eventual ninth-place finisher) Interpatation (Langfuhr) at the three-eighths pole, but he got squeezed and we had to check sharply since we were right behind him," Dominguez said. "I had to take a hold of him and drift out, then get back inside. I'm not going to make any excuses. He ran well and he ran hard. The winner had a jump on us at the end."

Expansion outdueled Take the Points by a head for third, yielding $10.80 at 33-1. Just as Well had to take up sharply between horses in the final yards and wound up fifth, followed by Court Vision; Grand Couturier; Pinckney Hill, who couldn't recover after being checked in midstretch; Interpatation; Strike a Deal (Smart Strike); and Jet Propulsion.

Winchester now sports a record of 16-4-4-1 with $652,898 in earnings. During his Irish sojourn with Weld, he finished second in the Silver S. at the Curragh prior to unplaced efforts in the King Edward VII S. (Eng-G2) at Royal Ascot and the Irish Derby (Ire-G1). Following his spectacular Secretariat victory at Arlington, he lost his way, concluding 2008 with unplaced performances in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) and Hollywood Turf Cup (G1).

Since his transfer to Clement, Winchester had run well in graded company without managing to win. Last season's highlights were runner-up finishes in the Bowling Green H. (G2) and Sycamore S. (G3), along with a third in the W.L. McKnight H. (G2). Winchester opened 2010 with a rallying second to Presious Passion (Royal Anthem) in the Mac Diarmida S. (G2), but encountered trouble en route to his fourth in the Pan American S. (G3) two back.

The Virginia-bred was produced by Irish Group 3 heroine Rum Charger (Ire) (Spectrum), whose youngest offspring are a juvenile filly named Incentive and a 2010 colt by Lemon Drop Kid. Rum Charger is herself a half-sister to the Group 3-placed pair of Pakhoes (College Chapel) and Park Romance (Dr Fong). She is also a half-sister to the dam of Group 3 victress English Ballet (Danehill Dancer), third in the 2006 Fillies Mile (Eng-G1). Tracing the female line further back, one finds dual English highweight Erhaab (Chief's Crown), hero of the 1994 Derby (Eng-G1).

More Graded Recaps:

Bradester takes flight in Salvator Mile

Dogwood Trail leads to Azalea winner's circle

Grand Bili captures Carry Back

Big Blue Kitten regains United Nations title

Merry Meadow crowned in Princess Rooney

Send this article to a friend