Gio Ponti defends title in Shadwell Turf Mile
October 8, 2011LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Gio Ponti won the $600,000 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland Race Course for the second straight year Saturday, edging Get Stormy by a half-length in the final strides to earn a spot next month in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs.
Ridden by Ramon Dominguez, the 6-year-old Castleton Lyons Farm entry ran a mile on the turf course in 1:37.17 and paid $5.80, $3.20 and $2.40 for his first victory since the race last year. Trainer Christophe Clement said he will likely retire Gio Ponti after the Breeders' Cup.
Get Stormy returned $9.40 and $5.20, and Sidney's Candy returned $4.60 to show.
Earlier, William's Kitten earned a spot in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, beating Musical Romance by a head in the Grade II $200,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes.
Dullahan secured a spot in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile when he edged Majestic City by three-quarters of a length in the $400,000 Breeders' Futurity Stakes.
William's Kitten returned $39.60, $17.20 and $7.20 under jockey Kendrick Carmouche, while Dullahan and jockey Kent Desormeaux paid $37.60, $14, and $9.60.
Also on the card, Never Retreat won the Grade I $350,000 First Lady Stakes, running down Together to take the mile turf event by 1 1/2 lengths for trainer Chris Block and jockey Julien Leparoux. She returned $10, $5.20, and $3.60. Never Retreat was Block's second winner on the day and Lepraroux's fourth. Leparoux won four races on Friday as well.