Penelope P. Miller
Tampa Bay Downs

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Gio Ponti, dual 2009 Eclipse Award winner as older male and male turf horse, headlines the 49 nominees for the 24th running of the $150,000 Tampa Bay Breeders’ Cup on Feb. 20. The five-year-old son of Tale of the Cat looks to make his first start of 2010 after finishing second to Champion mare Zenyatta in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Classic in November 2009 for owner Castleton Lyons and trainer Christophe Clement. 

In his 16 race career, Gio Ponti has won 9 races and was second 4 times for over $3.1 million in purse earnings. His Grade I victories include the Arlington Million, the Man O’War Stakes, the Manhattan Handicap and the Frank E. Kilroe Mile Handicap.

Joining Gio Ponti in the nominations for the Tampa Bay Breeders’ Cup is fellow millionaire Rahy’s Attorney. The Crown Attorney gelding was second in his last start in the Grade III River City Handicap at Churchill Downs and has won nine of his ten victories on the turf.  Jet Propulsion comes off of a victory in the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Turf after being claimed for $50,000; the seven-year-old Double Honor gelding has earned $536,789 of his $564,523 bankroll running on the lawn.

Finish Lines…  Trainer Chuck Peery, who is new to the Tampa Bay Downs backside for the 2009-2010 season, teamed up with owner Michael Jawl to score two wins on today’s program.  Peery and Jawl took their first trip to the Winner’s Circle with Mahindar; the three-year-old Leroidsanimaux filly was ridden to victory by Rosemary Homeister, Jr. Jawl and Peery scored again with Celtic New Year, a three-year-old North Light gelding ridden by Daniel Centeno. 

Tampa Bay Downs is now offering reserved finish-line seats for both Festival Preview Day on February 13, 2010 and Festival Day on March 13, 2010. Tickets are $15 each and include a reserved finish-line seat, admission, a program and a premium giveaway. For more information or to make reservations, please contact the Tampa Bay Downs Admissions Department at 813.866.4401 ext.1350.

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Racing resumes Feb. 10 with a ten race card; there is a Pick Six carryover of $1,239.57.