Top Five Derby Winners of my Lifetime
I’m 33 years old, so my first Kentucky Derby was the 1976 version won by Bold Forbes. I obviously don’t remember that one, though. Nor, sadly, do I remember the Triple Crown wins in 1977 and 1978 by Seattle Slew and Affirmed. The first Derby I do clearly remember watching isGato Del Sol in 1982, and it was with Ferdinand’s win in 1986 that I fell truly and deeply in love with the race. Every Derby since then has its’ own sets of memories and attachments, but some have obviously meant more than others. On the eve of a race that I hope will one day top this list, here, in no particular order, is a look at my five favorite Derby races:
Winning Colors - In 1988, this grey horse became the last filly to win the Derby. She was a gigantic horse who took a while to get rolling, but when she did she was like a freight train. She was the starting point for a couple of legendary careers as well – jockey Gary Stevens rode her to his first of three Derby wins, and four time winner D. Wayne Lukas first scored here. There was some doubt in some quarters that she was ready for the challenge of facing the boys, even though she had beat the boys previously in the Santa Anita Derby. She answered all of those doubts by exhibiting the kind of power that few boys have ever shown in this race.
Silver Charm – Silver Charm and another grey, Free House, dueled their way through the California preps, and they did it through the Triple Crown as well, along with Captain Bodgit . He locked into an impressive stretch duel and, in a sign of the courage that he would show again and again through his career, he came out ahead. This was one tough, determined horse.
Charismatic – Everyone loves a good underdog story, and this was as good as any. This horse was a claimer just months before he won the Derby. The odds gave him little chance of winning, and there was really no reason to think he would – there were many more horses with better breeding, better records, and higher hopes. Charismatic locked in with Menifee down the stretch and came out ahead. The story was especially good because Chris Antley, a great jockey with a checkered past and, as it turned out, future, got the win.
Unbridled – Frances Genter, the owner of this horse, looked like she was about 1000 years old. One of the most enduring images of the Derby is watching Unbridled’s trainer, Carl Nafzger, describe the race to Genter because she could barely see it. Impressive horse, and an impressive sire as well – he sired winners of all three of the Triple Crown races.
Barbaro – What happened after this race was heart-wrenching, but this race was just plain impressive. He’s also a handicapping point of pride. I happened to watch this horse run on January 1st in the Tropical Park Derby at Calder, and I decided right then and there that he was going to be my Derby horse. I stayed loyal all the way along, and, for once, it made me look good.
Related posts:
- The Last Two Derby Preps The Kentucky Derby is just three weeks away. After the...
- Five Horses That Could Win the Derby If you are only going to take a bit of...
- Rachel Alexandra: Yea or Nay? The biggest single story heading into the Preakness on Saturday...
Tags: Barbaro, Charismatic, Kentucky Derby, Silver Charm, Unbridled, Winning Colors
