Shadwell Turf Mile Top Contenders

by Bodog Racebook | Oct 3 2011

A Win and You’re In event for the Breeders’ Cup Mile, the $600,000 Shadwell Turf Mile will be run this Saturday, Oct. 8. Hosted by Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., on its opening weekend, the race is for 3-year-olds and up willing to run 1 mile over turf. Gio Ponti, Court Vision and Get Stormy are among the top contenders.

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Seeking his first win of the year is 2010 champion turf horse Gio Ponti. A son of Tale of the Cat, Gio Ponti won this race last year – in fact, the last time he was in the winner’s circle – with a late-running effort. But the 6-year-old champion has not dominated the competition like he has in the past. In his 2011 debut in Dubai, he came in fifth in the Dubai World Cup. His next two starts were at Belmont Park, where he finished third in the Gr. 1 Manhattan Handicap and then runner-up in the Gr. 1 Man o’ War Stakes. In his latest outing, he was again second in the Gr. 1 Arlington Million Stakes at Arlington Park on Aug. 13. A career 27-11-10-1, Gio Ponti has earned $5,689,800 for owner Castleton Lyons.

Also looking for his first trip to the winner’s circle in 2011 and a ticket to the 2011 Breeders’ Cup World Championships is Court Vision. This 6-year-old son of Gulch has yet to crack the top three this year but has a solid chance in the Shadwell Turf Mile. He began his campaign at Keeneland in April, coming in fourth in the Gr. 1 Maker’s Mark Mile. A less-than-stellar ninth-place finish came next in May in the Gr. 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes. A month later, he turned in a fourth-place performance in the Colonial Turf Cup Stakes and then turned in a strong but ultimately disappointing seventh in the Gr. 1 Woodbine Mile Stakes on Sept. 18. Court Vision, now trained by Dale Romans for Spendthrift Farm, won the Shadwell Turf Mile in 2009; he has earned $2,666,658 and is 30-8-4-4.

Lightly raced so far in 2011 is Get Stormy, a Stormy Atlantic colt whose last race was a runner-up finish in the Gr. 2 Bernard Baruch Handicap in August. He has already captured a pair of grade 1 wins this year – the Gr. 1 Maker’s Mark Mile Stakes on April 15 and the Gr. 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes on May 7. Trained by Thomas Bush for Sullimar Stable, the 5-year-old Get Stormy has earned $1,196,197 from 24 starts and is 10-3-3.

Wise Dan is also expected for the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In event.

Now you’re ready to bet on this Breeders’ Cup Mile prep race! Bet on horse racing with the Bodog Racebook!