Gio Ponti: Taking a Look Back at the Champion Horse's Career

When the news hit last week that five-year-old Gio Ponti was officially retired, many looked back fondly at the horse’s career. 

Gio Ponti was constantly overshadowed by the great females of his generation, finishing second to both Goldikova and Zenyatta in his career. But he quickly made his way into the heart of fans with his gritty style.

During his career, he had a record of 29-12-10-1, finishing off the board in just six of his races. The horse won seven grade one races and racked up sixth second place races in grade ones as well. 

All but one of Gio Ponti’s races were in stakes with his worst finish being an eighth in the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in 2007. In his career, Gio Ponti also won three Eclipse awards with the Champion Male Turf Horse in 2009 and 2010 and Champion Older Male in 2009.

“We are delighted to welcome Gio Ponti back home to the farm where he was bred and raised,” Castleton Lyons president Shane Ryan said. “Gio Ponti displayed great consistency, versatility and class, and retires completely sound after five very successful years on the track. I would like to thank Christophe Clement and all of his staff for handling Gio Ponti with such expertise.”

Gio Ponti was the image of consistency for most of his career, finishing in the top placings of some of the biggest races.  After a fifth place in the Dubai World Cup in late March, he came back to run second, twice in grade ones before defending his 2010 G1 Shadwell Turf Mile win at Keeneland in October.

The final race of Gio Ponti’s career was the controversial G1 TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile. The horse finished fourth behind Court Vision in his fourth appearance in five years at the Championship races.

Gio Ponti raced with some of the best horses in the world both on turf and dirt and looks to be a successful sire as well with the support of both Castleton Lyons and outside breeders.

Gio Ponti, a Tale of the Cat son out of an Alydar mare, will stand for $20,000 at Castleton Lyons.