Q&A With Gio Ponti Trainer Christophe Clement

re: Q&A With Gio Ponti Trainer Christophe Clement

gw_bushwacker — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:28:09 GMT

Spin this "liar". You insist on calling Zenyatta the west coast or california champ even though she's won in the midwest. You call RA your american champ but she's not won all over america either. Why the hypocrasy?

How about the one you call the West Coast Champ (Zenyatta) vs the Midwest/Northeast only Champ(RA, she's only won in the midwest and northeast so not the american champ as per your definition)vs the Florida Champ (Quality Road) vs the European Champ (Sea of Stars or perhaps another)vs the top American grass horse (Gio Ponti) for all the marbles at the World Championships in November. Ya don't show ya don't win HOY. Afterall you were the one who insisted last year that champions run on championship day.

I think anyone of the horses mentioned would have a shot at beating her. Oh she's a good one alright. Anyhorse who can run Curlin like beyer figs (well she's done it once anyway in thirteen tries) is and she's a much better 3 yr old than any and I mean any 3 yr old last year was (Ravens Pass or Henrythenavigator would be the only competition from that group). Last year it was duck duck dutrow hiding big brown from the real competition and this year it's JJ balking at a real showdown. I want to see her beat something other than 3 yr olds regardless of gender and I want to see her beat the best competition as well. So far she's a one trick pony in that she's only won on the right half of the map.

Isn't it just wrong when someone "borrows" the type of ridiculous statements you make and spins them against you?

re: Q&A With Gio Ponti Trainer Christophe Clement

Carlos in Cali — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 23:28:54 GMT

Thank you Jason,for telling it like it is regarding RA having to face a "true acid test",before handing her the HOY.

Also,your thoughts on your favorite dog's-breed owner Michael Vick going to your Eagles?...

re: Q&A With Gio Ponti Trainer Christophe Clement

LAZMANNICK — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 21:04:07 GMT

ABZ

Nice list....and you're right.....there are tons more you probably missed.....Just wondering.....how many of your stable stars were bred in Europe.....conversely, I wonder how many of Gun Bow's were bred in N/A.

re: Q&A With Gio Ponti Trainer Christophe Clement

ABZ — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:58:03 GMT

OK GunBow here's my list from the same timeframe as your European list:

Skip Away, Formal Gold, Will's Way, Chief Bearhart, Unbridled's Song, Louis Quatorze, Gentleman, Favorite Trick, Awesome Again, Silver Charm, Touch Gold, Free House, Silverbulletday, Real Quiet, Victory Gallop, Tale of the Cat, Charismatic, Soaring Softly, Perfect Sting, Tiznow, Point Given, Macho Uno, Xtra Heat, Kona Gold, Storm Flag Flying, War Emblem, Medaglia D'Oro, Azeri, Funny Cide, Empire Maker, Smarty Jones, Mineshaft, Vindication, Afleet Alex, Ghostzapper, Kitten's Joy, Ashado, Better Talk Now, Film Maker, St. Liam, Lost in the Fog, English Channel, Commentator, Bernardini, Barbaro, Invasor, Curlin, Street Sense, Rags to Riches, Hard Spun, Kip Deville, Midnight Lute, Big Brown, Zenyatta, Gio Ponti, Forever Together, Quality Road and Rachel Alexandra.

Sorry about all the great American horses that have run since 1997 that I forgot in this list.

re: Q&A With Gio Ponti Trainer Christophe Clement

Tim G — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:03:22 GMT

Actually guys she was tossing her head around, nearly smacked Rajiv in the face. She was tossing her head like that in the paddock and on the way out too.

She didn't stumble she walked out on a hop, tossed her head up a few times and he had to just get her lined out. Made a move from the back, the patented Birdstone, Grindstone move, But sheesh. I tried to get him off her, bad Karma.

DN, I don't make bets with fools or little children.

My younger kids will bet with Mom but I don't fall for that.

Besides what would I GET if (when) I took the bet? You standing on a corner in Saratoga Springs with a sign saying 'I'm Draynay, and I can't pick a horse on my own (or with help) to save my life. I badmouth innocent animals and hardworking trainers, then brag that 'people' tout me and oh by the way I'm a blowhard' ?

Of course you aren't a man of your word so I wouldn't trust you to hold up your end of it.

Surely with all your wealth you can buy your own hat?

Take your winnings, oh on second thought you wouldn't have anything to cover up the, as Shawn said, hair plugs.

Your hat collection? Goodwill has those? I'll donate some.

re: Q&A With Gio Ponti Trainer Christophe Clement

The Rock — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:56:07 GMT

Nuff said about the nay nay curse. Damn, Rachel must be that good to carry all that weight! lol

re: Q&A With Gio Ponti Trainer Christophe Clement

Greg J. — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:22:23 GMT

Tim G.,

When the race went off and I heard the announcer say a horse stumbled at the gate, I thought to myself, "It must me Tweeter", I wish I was wrong, But, Sure enough, "He said it was the five horse, Tweeter", I think she did spit out the bit!, She did make a gallant come back, though, The Draynay curse lives on...

re: Q&A With Gio Ponti Trainer Christophe Clement

LAZMANNICK — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:20:26 GMT

Tweeter le dee

See what I mean.....A stumbling start is the same as a stumbling mouth.....If I would have put three thou on the horse that would represent the number of times Dray has been wrong.....and that's just since July.

re: Q&A With Gio Ponti Trainer Christophe Clement

Shawn P — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:17:31 GMT

Laz, actually it's the south end of a north bound horse.

re: Q&A With Gio Ponti Trainer Christophe Clement

Tim G — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:13:48 GMT

Well, see what I mean?

She was acting bad in paddock, then pitched a fit, came out of the gate with her head in the air throwing it around and got left at the start.

She made up some ground and got up for 5th.

re: Q&A With Gio Ponti Trainer Christophe Clement

Tim G — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:06:11 GMT

Laz, you put your 3gs on her? Down to 8/1.

ABZ, my issue exactly. What if she hears that someone (who thinks they're somebody) has been talking trash about her nephew and now the guy is betting on her she may spit out the bit and say "I'll break you fool, take your $2 bet and flush it down the...." Hate to see her do that to the connections and I want her to win. Will just hold my nose and plug my ears from the Nay Nay man. Post time.

I'd sooner take advice from somebody at the funny farm than the toutless wonder guys.

re: Q&A With Gio Ponti Trainer Christophe Clement

LAZMANNICK — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:54:13 GMT

Shawn P

Those animals you're refering about wouldn't happen to have long ears and occasionally wear a staw hat and have a habit of saying he-haw would they?

re: Q&A With Gio Ponti Trainer Christophe Clement

Zippy Potato Chippy — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:49:12 GMT

I love how so many assume a horse can get 1 1/4. Rachel Alexandra, as brilliant as she is at 1 1/8, wants no part of 1 1/4 and I doubt if the connections want any part of it.

re: Q&A With Gio Ponti Trainer Christophe Clement

Draynay — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:37:03 GMT

Jack Downs the ONLY chance Quality Road would have is to move from the Travers to the Woodward to take on Rachel. He has no path even if he wins the Travers and Breeders Cup.

Tim G. on Travers day pick your horse in each race and I will pick mine. Jason can hold the picks. 5 points for a win, 3 for 2nd and 1 for Show. High Score wins. When you lose you owe me hat of my choice from Horsehats.com I have a ton from people like you but I could always use another Quality Road hat.

re: Q&A With Gio Ponti Trainer Christophe Clement

Jack Downs — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:13:39 GMT

I have not seen anyone mention Quality Road for HOY........His last 2 starts he broke track records at 6 1/2 F and at 1 1/8.....If he romps in the Travers and the BC Classic......He would have to be considered a strong candidate for HOY.........

re: Q&A With Gio Ponti Trainer Christophe Clement

Draynay — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:09:39 GMT

Hypocrite ? Me ? Is it better to be a hypocrite or a hard headed fool. You can't watch Colonel John come in to a Stakes race off a 7 month layoff and his first race as a 4 year old on turf, watch him dominate a good field and come within a half second of the course record and not be impressed. Last year I felt he was a bit of a plodder but watching him as a 4 year old flying down the lane to a 132 mile first time out you can't help but be impressed. Hypocrite ? I don't think so Jason you can't be a hard headed fool when the horse proves to you he has game.

re: Q&A With Gio Ponti Trainer Christophe Clement

ABZ — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:03:26 GMT

Didn't anyone else find it very odd that Draynay is passing on a tout on Brother Bird???

re: Q&A With Gio Ponti Trainer Christophe Clement

ABZ — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:01:54 GMT

Colonel John is most certainly one of the top 10 older horses in America, anyone's current list that excludes him has made a mistake. I am not so sure that Quality Road would beat Colonel John if they raced next week. That would be an awful lot to ask of such a lighlty raced 3-year-old.

re: Q&A With Gio Ponti Trainer Christophe Clement

Tim G — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:01:09 GMT

"Sorry but I don't see WHY someone has to hold onto the shirttails of someone else to pick a winner??"

Tim G 14 Aug 2009 11:57 AM "

Reading comprehension not taught at your 'college'?

Handicapping advice from YOU? LOL.

I'm about as direct as a human can be. Anger has no place in my profession, so not really a part of my personality. Just dissecting your persona as YOU represent it.

I had a 1400.00 tri yesterday and you had what? A cloud of chalk around your head?

I didn't even have to listen to imaginary voices, I just told the man direct my thoughts, he quietly concurred and I ended up with the $21 winner.

Now the 1st race is loading must run, but I'd prefer you get off Tweeter. Don't like to see a dud like you on the filly.

re: Q&A With Gio Ponti Trainer Christophe Clement

horseracingfan — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:57:50 GMT

I think my favorite race from gio ponti was the mile race where he only beat a solid tryer in the sir beaufort!

re: Q&A With Gio Ponti Trainer Christophe Clement

Shawn P — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:51:06 GMT

Think that's called a bandwaggoner?

Also you say you played college ball, but your bio says 'some college'? Well that could be a one semester flash as my folks refer to them as. Another sign of no sticktoitiveness. (Didn't know Podunk U online college had FB....

Oh, video game, got it).

You forgot to add modest and humble to that description (as well as totally delusional). Oh wait, people describing themselves as you did definitely DO resemble the animals, at least a certain part of them.

I agree with Jason.

Not only do you jump from horse to horse you trash them in the worst way, not just saying you don't like their running style or looks, times, connections you just say the most humiliating and nasty things you can think of to say about them.

You've been doing it to Zen and MTB this year and NO horse deserves that. Makes you look like the fool you are when you turn around and give them props, like you did Zen on another blog.

Just what Tim G said, you slammed trainers on here all last year, I'm talking mean, nasty, unkind stuff. Not just about trainers who have had issues, but blanket accusations and mean comments.

Now you suddenly have a 'thing' for Todd, he's in your mind talking to you and you keep hyping him big time? Did he say hello to you, nod his head in your direction or what? The problem is, people don't forget that kind of disrespect you show the horses or the people in racing or to these people writing the blog comments.

re: Q&A With Gio Ponti Trainer Christophe Clement

steve s — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:49:17 GMT

Dreynay"Aug 13 10:14"is wrong.

Dynaformers like YEILDING TURF better.

re: Q&A With Gio Ponti Trainer Christophe Clement

LAZMANNICK — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:49:05 GMT

Hey Dray

How about the HUMAN RACE

re: Q&A With Gio Ponti Trainer Christophe Clement

longwaytomay — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:49:04 GMT

Jason,

It is obvious to me that Dray does not want Rachel in the Travers because he is afraid that he will have to eat crow for a very long time. She is a great filly, don't get me wrong, but I'm highly confident she does not want to go a mile and a quarter. I'm also highly confident that her trainer thinks the same thing.

re: Q&A With Gio Ponti Trainer Christophe Clement

Greg J. — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:38:12 GMT

A History Lesson,

A few comments by the infamous Draynay made last year right before the 2008 Travers:

"Macho gets the double easy."

" C. John couldn't find the finish line with a road map ""

"The Travers is leading to nothing who cares?"

"I am so sick and tired of hearing about older horses I could just go nuts."

"Big Brown is the most talented 3 year old we have seen in 30 years"

Now he is touting Rachel versus the "Older" Colonel John?, This is Just way too funny...