ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (AP) — Gio Ponti will attempt to join John Henry as the only horses to ever win win the Arlington Million twice when he heads to the gate on Saturday.
The 5-year-old is the 7-5 favorite for the 112-mile race on turf at Arlington Park, just outside of Chicago. Gio Ponti stumbled out of the gate a year ago but roared into the lead on the final turn to win by just over a length.
John Henry won the inaugural race in 1981, then came back three years later to win again.
Named for the Italian architect of the same name, Gio Ponti can also make French-born Christophe Clement the first trainer to win the race in consecutive years. In four starts this year, Gio Ponti has finished first once and second twice.
