NEWS
Debussy upsets Gio Ponti in Arlington Million
Posted: Saturday, August 21, 2010 6:43 PM
DEBUSSY POWERS CLEAR IN ARLINGTON MILLION
PhotosbyZ.com/THOROUGHBRED TIMES
To view a replay of the Arlington Million, click here.
by Steve Bailey
European invader Debussy (Ire) found a crease along the rail and closed powerfully to overtake dual champion Gio Ponti in the final strides to win the Arlington Million Stakes (G1) on Saturday at Arlington Park.
A Group 2 winner in France and a group stakes winner in England for trainer John Gosden, the four-year-old Diesis (GB) colt made the most of his first North American start, covering 1¼ miles in 2:03.01 on turf rated as good to win by a half-length.
The victory assured Debussy a spot in the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) on November 6 at Churchill Downs as part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series
The loss was another disappointment for Gio Ponti, who won last year’s Arlington Million en route to Eclipse Awards as champion older male and champion turf male. The five-year-old Tale of the Cat horse has won only one of five starts this season but has finished second three times for owner Castleton Lyons and trainer Christophe Clement.
Tazeez reared at the start but quickly hustled to the front, taking the field through a half-mile in :50.04 and six furlongs in 1:13.69 as Gio Ponti and jockey Ramon Dominguez raced in last in the field of nine.
Gio Ponti swung seven wide on the turn to make his bid as the heavy 9-to-10 favorite, driving down the center of the course to what appeared to be a clear victory.
Debussy, however, and jockey William Buick, who were blocked at the quarter pole and encountered traffic problems in upper stretch, found space along the rail and accelerated with authority to overhaul the leader and edge clear in the final strides to pull the upset at odds of 11-to-1.
Gio Ponti held on to finish second, two lengths in front of Tazeez. Multiple Grade 1 winner General Quarters raced in third through six furlongs and was second at the quarter pole but faded to finish seventh.
The victory was the fifth from 14 starts for Princess Haya’s Debussy, who entered off a fourth-place finish in the Sky Bet York Stakes (Eng-G2) on July 24 at York.
Steve Bailey is deputy news editor of Thoroughbred Times
For an Equibase chart, click here.
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: KautoStar, Cambridge, UK, NB on August 25, 2010 at 08:18 AM
Clearly meant Gio Ponti, d'oh!
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Posted by: KautoStar, Cambridge, UK, NB on August 25, 2010 at 08:17 AM
Hate to say it because I quite like Gio Ponto, but I actually laughed out loud when I saw Debussy had won. This colt is a good performer, but no where near top class. Sea The Stars destroyed him in the Derby last year, and has little chance of winning a European Group 1 (he probably will now and I'll have to eat my words!). The form of the horses Sea The Stars beat is looking unbelievably good, something like 40 Group 1 winners from 6 Group 1 races.
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Posted by: Bob, Richmond, VA on August 23, 2010 at 09:42 PM
Being a racing fan that keeps up with European racing just as closely as American racing. I can tell you this. I've seen the race replays of every race that both Debussy and Tazeez have ran in their careers. Both often race against G1 and G2 turf horses in Europe. But rarely beat them. They've both placed well in G1 and G2 races. But both are considered G3 turf horses in Europe. That said. Gio Ponti is a multiple G1 turf winner in America. Is it that European turf racing is just a stronger group of horses entirely as compared to American turf racing? That's very hard to determine from this race. Because it wasn't so much that Debussy beat Gio Ponti. It was more that William Buick out-rode Ramon Dominguez, IMO. After Dominguez swept about 6 or 7 wide to overtake Tazeez for the lead. Dominguez allowed Gio Ponti to just idle a bit. Thinking that Gio Ponti would easily stride on home from there. Dominguez failed to realize that William Buick still had a lot of horse left under him in Debussy. Especially with those cream puff fractions that they got away with. Buick had also been smart and savvy enough to keep Debussy very close to the rail throughout the race. Saving a ton of ground. Ground that Gio Ponti forfeited when he went so wide around the final turn. Gio Ponti ran a great race. But William Buick rode a great race. That was the difference, IMO, in the outcome of the Arlington Million.
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Posted by: Toby, Tulsa, OK on August 23, 2010 at 09:53 AM
Mr. Buick rode one hell of a race on Debussy. But I contend Debussy did not win the Million as much as Dominguez and Gio Ponti lost it.
It looked to me like Dominguez took his foot off the gas when GP drew clear and he never saw Debussy closing in on the rail.
After the Million, I immediately flashed back to Jeremy Rose blowing the Kentucky Derby on Afleet Alex in 2005 when an unworthy Giacomo snuck in.
GP does not have the luxury of a Preakness to put Debussy in his place, however.
Looked like Dominguez quit riding 150y from home. If it were my horse, he'd never ride him again.
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Posted by: Mimi, San Antonio, TX on August 22, 2010 at 08:38 PM
Debussy is an awesome looking horse. (Look at that tail-cairrage, too.) And, WHAT a ride by William Buick! This was definitely Debussy's day and he performed well.
And, I agree with everyone's comments on this article. Gio Ponti and Dominguez didn't see Debussy coming. It was a great win for Debussy, and a tough loss for Gio Ponti; he was 2nd, though, that's not depressing. I feel sorry for General Quarters, though. This field seemed to be loaded with great turf horses and I don't think General Quarters loves the turf as much as them.
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