How to bet the Gio Ponti Stakes

A well-matched field of eight sophomores will run one mile on the Aqueduct green in Sunday’s $150,000 Gio Ponti S. A case can be made for the majority of the runners in the field, so I will dabble with a few of the contenders in the deep cast. 

Gio Ponti Wagers

• $1 trifecta 5,6 with 1,2,4,5,6 with 1,2,4,5,6 ($24)
• 20-cent superfecta 5,6 with 1,2,4,5,6 with 1,2,4,5,6 with all ($24)

Calumet homebred #5 Candytown comes off a dominant allowance victory at Saratoga last time out and has to be given a good chance while making his third run off the shelf. By Speightstown, the chestnut displayed both tactical speed and a sharp closing kick most recently, and he figures to endure a similar type of voyage on Sunday, as well. The colt will likely lie close throughout and get the jump on the deeper closing sorts at the top of the lane with Edgard Zayas in the silks. 

#6 Capitol Hill has faced some strong foes in his last pair of assignments and will improve with the measure of class relief in this endeavor for conditioner Bill Mott. The bay son of Into Mischief ran arguably his best race to date when a fast-closing second in the Manila S. (G3) three back when finishing behind only the excellent Zulu Kingdom at this distance. Junior Alvarado will have this one making one run in the lane. 

Tom Morley’s #4 Griffin’s Wharf showed a nice turn of foot when second to subsequent Saranac S. victor Stars and Strides in an allowance race at The Spa, while making his first grassy appearance most recently. The Constitution chestnut has displayed improvement this campaign and comes in fresh for a dangerous layoff conditioner, so another step forward is surely not out of the question. If the Kentucky-bred can be in range at the top of the lane, then he could make noise at a good number beneath Ricardo Santana, Jr. 

Toronto Cup winner #1 Church and State never runs a bad one and has intrigue while making his initial run in the States. Saranac S. runner-up, #2 Magic Pathway, has performed well in five of his six career tries on the lawn and proved last time that he belongs with black-type runners. The pair are both logical inclusions for the verticals.