Breeders' Cup: Gio Ponti entered in Classic and Mile

Gio Ponti was cross-entered in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Breeders’ Cup Mile when BC pre-entries were taken Monday, trainer Christophe Clement said Tuesday.

Castleton-Lyons Farm owner Shane Ryan conducted the BC entry process the same way in 2010, listing the Classic as Gio Ponti’s first preference over the Mile, but eventually choosing to race Gio Ponti in the Mile, where he finished second to Goldikova. Gio Ponti finished second in 2009 racing in the BC Classic, but that was over a synthetic surface at Santa Anita. Gio Ponti never has raced on dirt, the surface on which the 2011 Classic will be contested at Churchill Downs.

“The plan all along has been the BC Mile, so that’s the main goal, but the owner would like to keep his options open, and we entered the Classic, too,” Clement said.

Gio Ponti is scheduled to work over turf at his home base, Belmont Park, on Wednesday morning, Clement said. A final decision between the Classic and the Mile will be made in the days after Wednesday’s work, Clement said.