10/05/2011 2:59PM

Keeneland: Gio Ponti, Get Stormy head star-studded Shadwell Turf Mile

By Marty McGee
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Photos by Z
Saturday's Shadwell Turf Mile has attracted a stellar field, including Gio Ponti

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Gio Ponti and Get Stormy head what might be the deepest field in years in the Grade 1, $600,000 Shadwell Turf Mile, the last of five straight graded stakes set for a blockbuster Saturday card at Keeneland.

Gio Ponti, winner of the Shadwell last year, was assigned post 5 in a field of eight in the Shadwell, a Win and You’re In race toward the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Ramon Dominguez will ride 6-year-old Gio Ponti for owner Castleton Lyons and trainer Christophe Clement.

Get Stormy won the premier turf race at the Keeneland spring meet, the Maker’s Mark Mile, and was assigned the outside post with Garrett Gomez getting the call.

From the hedge, the Shadwell field is Tajaaweed, Sidney’s Candy, Dance and Dance, Zoffany, Gio Ponti, Society’s Chairman, Wise Dan, and Get Stormy.

KEENELAND FALL MEET: View stakes schedule, watch live video for every race day

The Shadwell, the richest race of the 17-day meet, goes as the ninth of 10 Saturday races. In the other Saturday stakes, all of which drew big fields:

* Grade 1, $400,000 Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (race 8): Graded stakes winners Majestic City and Shared Property were assigned posts 5 and 7, respectively, in this 1 1/16-mile Polytrack race for 2-year-olds. Two stakes winners on turf, Lucky Chappy and Gung Ho, got posts 8 and 14. Sixteen were entered, but only as many as 14 can run.

* Grade 1, $350,000 First Lady (race 7): Daveron, Wasted Tears, and Never Retreat head this exceptionally deep one-mile turf race. Theyskens’ Theory also will be entered for the Grade 1 Spinster on Sunday, said trainer Shug McGaughey. Fourteen are entered, but only as many as 12 can run; the also-eligibles are two terrific turf fillies, Snow Top Mountain and Tapitsfly.

* Grade 2, $200,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (race 6): Switch (post 10, Joel Rosario to ride) is the likely favorite over Musical Romance, Shotgun Gulch, and Holiday for Kitten in a field of 11 fillies and mares, most of them hopefuls for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

* Grade 3, $150,000 Woodford (race 5): A remarkably well-matched field of 14 turf sprinters goes here, with Streakin’ Mohican, Varsity, and Perfect Officer among the choices.