Jul. 13, 2009 (United Press International) -- Upsets were more the rule than the exception in the weekend's big races, including events that start to point the way to year-end honors in the Classic and Sprint divisions.
On the grass, however, Gio Ponte performed as advertised in Saturday's $500,000 Man o' War at Belmont Park, jumping right to the top of that division's roster.
Gio Ponte, a 4-year-old Tale of the Cat colt, came into the Man o' War off back-to-back victories in the Frank Kilroe Handicap at Santa Anita and the Manhattan Handicap at Belmont last month. He was stretching out beyond 10 furlongs for the first time for trainer Christophe Clement.
The added distance, if anything, proved an asset as Gio Ponte sat well off the pace, responded when asked by jockey Ramon Dominguez and rallied nicely in the final furlong to win by 1 3/4 lengths. Pace-setting longshot Musketier was second and Quijano was third. Both Musketier and Quijano are German-breds and their supporters said "jawohl" to a trifecta payoff of $1,050, even with the favorite on top.
Gio Ponte ran the 1 3/8 miles on firm turf in 2:12.56 after a deliberate early pace and now has eight wins from 13 starts. Grand Couturier finished fifth, Dancing Forever eighth and Midships last of nine.
"This is his third Grade 1 in a row," said Clement. "It just confirms that at the moment, I'm afraid, he's got to be the leader of the turf division here. He did not have the best trip, being wide. He was widest of all going in to the first turn. But Ramon gave him a great ride. He did not panic and he still had enough to finish and finished very well. That's the great thing about good horses. They overcome a few things."
Clement said the next start for Gio Ponti likely will be the Aug. 8 Arlington Million.
In other potential preps for the $3 million Breeders' Cup Turf:
-- In the final local prep for the Arlington Million, Just as Well circled the field turning for home in Saturday's $200,000 Arlington Handicap at Arlington Park and got clear at the end to win by 1 length over Gentleman Chester. Cosmonaut, the favorite, tracked the pace and missed second by a neck. Another longshot, My Happiness, completed the superfecta. Just as Well, a 6-year-old, Kentucky-bred son of A.P. Indy, ran the 1 1/4 miles on firm turf in 2:02.84 under E.T. Baird. Jonathan Sheppard owns and trains the horse. Just as Well has been close in many of his recent starts but Saturday's win was his first in six tries this year. "He needs a longer run," Sheppard said. "At one time, we were trying to blow the whole field away in the stretch and he's not quite quick enough to do that. He's figured it out now and couldn't be happier. I was concerned about the pace. When he was in company with horses he was a little too rank. (Baird) took him back behind the field and then he settled pretty nicely for him."
-- In Saturday's $300,000 American Derby at Arlington, a prep for the Grade I Secretariat Stakes on Million Day, Reb kicked in strongly at the top of the stretch, closed quickly and won by a head over No Inflation. Oil Man finished third but was place fifth for stretch interference involving the favorite, Giant Oak, and Proceed Bee, who finished fifth and fourth respectively. They each moved up a placing. Reb, a Kentucky-bred colt by Stormy Atlantic, finished the 1 3/16 miles on firm turf in 1:56.09 under Julien Leparoux. George Arnold is the winning trainer. "We don't know how good he is yet," said Leparoux. "He's still very green. The first time I rode him at Keeneland, he was green. He won both races by a neck and a nose. He's just learning, so I didn't want him to be in a rush. I was trying to get him to relax. Then I was afraid he was going to relax too much, but when Giant Oak started his run, my horse took the bit and gave me a very nice run."
-- Crown Isle, making his first start on the grass, took back to a pace-stalking position in Saturday's $150,000 (Canadian) Toronto Cup for 3-year-olds at Woodbine, then took charge in the stretch to win by 3 1/2 lengths. Coffee Bar was second, Hisaki was third and the favorite, Awesome Rhythm, failed to find any rally and finished fourth. Crown Isle, a Kentucky-bred Arch colt, ran the 9 furlongs in 1:48.86. Emma-Jayne Wilson had the mount for trainer John Charalambous. "We were waiting for the turf," Charalambous said. "It just didn't happen last year. This year we've been trying. He got it today."
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In other races with potential implications for the $25.5 million Breeders' Cup World Championships Nov. 6-7 at Santa Anita:
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$5 million Classic
Rail Trip let longshot Tres Borrachos set the pace in Saturday's $700,000 Hollywood Gold Cup at Hollywood Park, came to the front at the top of the stretch and drew off easily, winning by 3 lengths. Tres Borrachos held second, well clear of the filly, Life is Sweet. Defending champion Mast Track finished fourth and the favorite, Parading, got home fifth. Rail Trip, a 4-year-old, Kentucky-bred Jump Start gelding, ran the 1 1/4 miles on the all-weather track in a course record 2:00.75 under Jose Valdivia Jr. Ron Ellis trains the winner. "Before I got to the quarter pole, I thought, 'I'm going to try to break the race open,'" Valdivia said. "I didn't think it was a matter if he was good enough. I just kept thinking whether he could get the mile and a quarter. I knew they were really going to have to run hard to get by me."
Atomic Rain, an early defector from the Triple Crown trail, put it all together in Saturday's $175,000 Long Branch Stakes for 3-year-olds at Monmouth Park. After settling well behind the leaders, the Kentucky-bred Smart Strike colt circled four-wide into the stretch and drove home 4 3/4 lengths in front. Despite the Odds and Papa Clem finished second and third, respectively. With Joe Bravo up for trainer Kelly Breen, Atomic Rain finished the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:43.79. "This was the most professional race I've seen him run," Breen said. "I don't know yet what we'll do between now and the Haskell. He was pretty cranked up for this, but if I can crank him up anymore I will. He's really coming into his own and if there's a time for that, it's now."
Gallant took the lead heading into the backstretch in Sunday's $500,000 (Canadian) Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie, the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. Milwaukee Appeal ranged up to challenge on the far turn and the pair battled to the wire. A long examination of the photo was required to post Gallant's No. 3 as the winner. Eye of the Leopard, the winner of the Queen's Plate, challenged late in the stretch run but fell 1/2 length short of the runner-up. Gallant, a gray son of Aptitude, ran the 1 3/16 miles on a fast track with Corey Frasier riding. It was just the second win from eight starts for Gallant, who went to the post at odds of better than 15-1. The final leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, the Breeders' Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on the grass, will be at Woodbine on Aug.
