Kentucky Derby Picks of the Past, the 80's (How I've faired over the years - part 2 of the series)
Posted by Billy at 3/6/2010 10:54 AM 
Categories: Kentucky Derby
Tags: Breeders' Cup TVG Handicapping Triple Crown Thoroughbred Lukas The Bell Group Churchill Downs Stallions Kentucky Derby Preakness Keeneland Affirmed Horse Racing Lexington Winning Colors
Categories: Kentucky Derby
Tags: Breeders' Cup TVG Handicapping Triple Crown Thoroughbred Lukas The Bell Group Churchill Downs Stallions Kentucky Derby Preakness Keeneland Affirmed Horse Racing Lexington Winning Colors
(if you missed part 1 here it is http://lovingtheracehorse.com/2010/03/04/pick-an-apple--pick-a-pair-no-i-didnt-mean-pear--a-series.aspx)
My first Derby winner (that I picked - not owned, still waiting on that) was Gato Del Sol. That was in 1982 (are you old enough to ride this ride?) I may be a huge Affirmed worshiper but I was like 8 years old (if I even want to admit my age) when he won and I really can't say I remember that year, Spectacular Bid or Genuine Risk. All 3 being horses which I appreciate their dominance and power. I actually started paying attention in 1981 when 2 little New Mexico horses hit the scene.
1981 - Bold Ego and Pass the Tab both had roots in New Mexico (my birth state yo). I only picked them because they were stakes winners that I'd heard of and my Dad told me about them. There has to be a beginning right? Bold Ego won 3 of NM's top 2yo races: New Mexico Futurity, Riley Allison Futurity, Rio Grande Kindergarten Futurity before heading to Oaklawn Park as a 3-year-old and taking the Rebel S. and Arkansas Derby-G1. He had the lead after a mile before fading to 10th - later he was 2nd in the Preakness S.-G1 (the race that has eluded all New Mexicans - ha). Pass the Tab had won the Santa Fe Futurity (no longer exists along with Santa Fe Downs) at 2 and was on the board in several Florida Derby preps. He was 3rd after a mile but faded to 6th. Billy loses.
1982 - As I mentioned above - I picked Gato Del Sol, but I also liked the filly Cupecoy's Joy. I had to watch this race later on news replays as me and my Dad were at McGee Park. This was the local racetrack in Bloomfield, NM that was at the time - only calcutta wagering (don't ask - it's basically illegal) and later became San Juan Downs (where I had my first win as an owner/breeder) and is now known as SunRay Park. We stood atop the scary wooden bleachers (I always thought I'd fall to my death) and the small mostly Quarter Horse, Appaloosa crowd listened to the call over the P.A. system (so you really heard nothing but noise). I couldn't understand a word but as the announcer called Gato Del Sol my Dad said "shit! I shoulda bet your horse you picked this morning." And so began an addiction to finding a longshot. Luckily many years later in 2000 I got to be associated with Gato's homecoming at Stone Farm when I worked for their ad agency The Bell Group. A special moment. Billy wins.
1983 - you have to remember (or maybe know for the first time) that during this time there were only 3 channels on tv and occasionally we got a derby prep on Wide World of Sports. But you always had to wade through a bunch of sports a boy like me didn't care about to get 10 minutes of horse racing. Wasting most of your day (not like now where I waste the entire day watching every race possible on TVG and HRTV - wait - not a waste) trying to find a horse you might like. My choices this year were Slew o' Gold and Marfa (because of that Blue Grass S.-G1 savage moment - hot!). Slew o' Gold sadly finished 4th and Marfa finished 5th. Another "full circle" moment - I got to Billy loses.
1984 - I was a Swale (winner) fan but my year was crushed with Time for a Change and Dr. Carter didn't make it to the Derby. I was suckered in by the very impressive record setting Arkansas Derby win of the filly Althea and her classy stablemate Life's Magic (take note - HUGE Eugene V. Klein fan here, I mean how could I not be? One of his first G1 winners was Miss Huntington). Althea lead for 6 furlongs and faded to 19th, Life's Magic finished 8th and stayed in my heart forever. Billy loses.
1985 - oh suck. Wasn't a Spend a Buck fan. LOVED Tank's Prospect (yay Preakness win!) but he was 7th in the Derby. A 3 year streak of losses! not even on the board. Billy loses.
1986- more suck for me. Mogambo and Groovy (yeah I love a sprinter). Mogambo was my horse because I loved his Champagne win at 2. I should have stopped there - he finished 10th. Groovy led for 6 furlongs and finished last. I did get to work with his sister Cookie as a yearling my first year in Kentucky. The first yearling I prepped. I felt so honored. Billy loses.
1987 - I was head long into my love of Spendthrift Farm (back then they really made me feel welcome - senior in High School - by answering my questions, sending me info, etc.) so I had On the Line (10th), Candi's Gold (8th) and Avies Copy (3rd), all by Spendthrift stallions. However, I couldn't let go of Alysheba. I told my Dad after the 1986 Breeders' Cup Juvenile when he ran 3rd that he would win the Derby. When Derby time came around I told him my picks - all 4. He asked "can't you just pick a horse you like and stick to it?" I said "not just one, I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings." You would thought I was 8 but I was 17 and so began a slight level of crazy (like now when I think the cast of Will & Grace are my friends). Billy wins.
1988 - hell yeah. Probably the best year ever for me. I picked one horse, Winning Colors early in the year and everyone said I was crazy. She was the epitome of the perfect Derby horse for me. Her sire was *Caro (IRE) (my 2nd favorite stallion of all time and stood at Spendthrift), she was out of a daughter of Bold Hour (stood at Spendthrift), she was owned by Eugene Klein. She was big and beautiful, gray and breathtaking. I was living in Lexington going to school at the Kentucky Horse Park. My Dad had flown out to drive back to NM with me as the program I was in had ended. We cheered in my studio apartment for our horses - me the filly, Dad - Forty Niner. What a great moment for racing, for the Triple Crown and for a father and son. I know a lot of people were fans - but she's tattooed with Flawlessly and Affirmed on my right arm - that's fan appreciation. I was honored to take her for a walk at Keeneland one day at the November sale. A moment I still get goosebumps over. Billy wins.
1989 - close but not close enough. My Dad LOVED Sunday Silence (winner)- I was like - whatever (funny when you look back). I loved Easy Goer (2nd - dammit) and Houston (there almost til the end - when it matters). In the lead for a mile, 3rd entering the stretch - 8th. Thanks. Billy loses.
The 80's
My first Derby winner (that I picked - not owned, still waiting on that) was Gato Del Sol. That was in 1982 (are you old enough to ride this ride?) I may be a huge Affirmed worshiper but I was like 8 years old (if I even want to admit my age) when he won and I really can't say I remember that year, Spectacular Bid or Genuine Risk. All 3 being horses which I appreciate their dominance and power. I actually started paying attention in 1981 when 2 little New Mexico horses hit the scene.
1981 - Bold Ego and Pass the Tab both had roots in New Mexico (my birth state yo). I only picked them because they were stakes winners that I'd heard of and my Dad told me about them. There has to be a beginning right? Bold Ego won 3 of NM's top 2yo races: New Mexico Futurity, Riley Allison Futurity, Rio Grande Kindergarten Futurity before heading to Oaklawn Park as a 3-year-old and taking the Rebel S. and Arkansas Derby-G1. He had the lead after a mile before fading to 10th - later he was 2nd in the Preakness S.-G1 (the race that has eluded all New Mexicans - ha). Pass the Tab had won the Santa Fe Futurity (no longer exists along with Santa Fe Downs) at 2 and was on the board in several Florida Derby preps. He was 3rd after a mile but faded to 6th. Billy loses.
1982 - As I mentioned above - I picked Gato Del Sol, but I also liked the filly Cupecoy's Joy. I had to watch this race later on news replays as me and my Dad were at McGee Park. This was the local racetrack in Bloomfield, NM that was at the time - only calcutta wagering (don't ask - it's basically illegal) and later became San Juan Downs (where I had my first win as an owner/breeder) and is now known as SunRay Park. We stood atop the scary wooden bleachers (I always thought I'd fall to my death) and the small mostly Quarter Horse, Appaloosa crowd listened to the call over the P.A. system (so you really heard nothing but noise). I couldn't understand a word but as the announcer called Gato Del Sol my Dad said "shit! I shoulda bet your horse you picked this morning." And so began an addiction to finding a longshot. Luckily many years later in 2000 I got to be associated with Gato's homecoming at Stone Farm when I worked for their ad agency The Bell Group. A special moment. Billy wins.
1983 - you have to remember (or maybe know for the first time) that during this time there were only 3 channels on tv and occasionally we got a derby prep on Wide World of Sports. But you always had to wade through a bunch of sports a boy like me didn't care about to get 10 minutes of horse racing. Wasting most of your day (not like now where I waste the entire day watching every race possible on TVG and HRTV - wait - not a waste) trying to find a horse you might like. My choices this year were Slew o' Gold and Marfa (because of that Blue Grass S.-G1 savage moment - hot!). Slew o' Gold sadly finished 4th and Marfa finished 5th. Another "full circle" moment - I got to Billy loses.
1984 - I was a Swale (winner) fan but my year was crushed with Time for a Change and Dr. Carter didn't make it to the Derby. I was suckered in by the very impressive record setting Arkansas Derby win of the filly Althea and her classy stablemate Life's Magic (take note - HUGE Eugene V. Klein fan here, I mean how could I not be? One of his first G1 winners was Miss Huntington). Althea lead for 6 furlongs and faded to 19th, Life's Magic finished 8th and stayed in my heart forever. Billy loses.
1985 - oh suck. Wasn't a Spend a Buck fan. LOVED Tank's Prospect (yay Preakness win!) but he was 7th in the Derby. A 3 year streak of losses! not even on the board. Billy loses.
1986- more suck for me. Mogambo and Groovy (yeah I love a sprinter). Mogambo was my horse because I loved his Champagne win at 2. I should have stopped there - he finished 10th. Groovy led for 6 furlongs and finished last. I did get to work with his sister Cookie as a yearling my first year in Kentucky. The first yearling I prepped. I felt so honored. Billy loses.
1987 - I was head long into my love of Spendthrift Farm (back then they really made me feel welcome - senior in High School - by answering my questions, sending me info, etc.) so I had On the Line (10th), Candi's Gold (8th) and Avies Copy (3rd), all by Spendthrift stallions. However, I couldn't let go of Alysheba. I told my Dad after the 1986 Breeders' Cup Juvenile when he ran 3rd that he would win the Derby. When Derby time came around I told him my picks - all 4. He asked "can't you just pick a horse you like and stick to it?" I said "not just one, I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings." You would thought I was 8 but I was 17 and so began a slight level of crazy (like now when I think the cast of Will & Grace are my friends). Billy wins.
1988 - hell yeah. Probably the best year ever for me. I picked one horse, Winning Colors early in the year and everyone said I was crazy. She was the epitome of the perfect Derby horse for me. Her sire was *Caro (IRE) (my 2nd favorite stallion of all time and stood at Spendthrift), she was out of a daughter of Bold Hour (stood at Spendthrift), she was owned by Eugene Klein. She was big and beautiful, gray and breathtaking. I was living in Lexington going to school at the Kentucky Horse Park. My Dad had flown out to drive back to NM with me as the program I was in had ended. We cheered in my studio apartment for our horses - me the filly, Dad - Forty Niner. What a great moment for racing, for the Triple Crown and for a father and son. I know a lot of people were fans - but she's tattooed with Flawlessly and Affirmed on my right arm - that's fan appreciation. I was honored to take her for a walk at Keeneland one day at the November sale. A moment I still get goosebumps over. Billy wins.
1989 - close but not close enough. My Dad LOVED Sunday Silence (winner)- I was like - whatever (funny when you look back). I loved Easy Goer (2nd - dammit) and Houston (there almost til the end - when it matters). In the lead for a mile, 3rd entering the stretch - 8th. Thanks. Billy loses.
The 80's
| Picks | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | win % |
| 17 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 18% |
I know I am getting old when I have to go back to look at Derby Charts to remember who did I like that year? Well, obviously that's for years I dod not pick the winner. I did pretty good in the 80s, but in 81 liked Flying Nashua, Tap Shoes and Cure the Blues, In 82 Air Forbes Won & Wavering Monarch, in 85 I was on Chief's Crown and Proud Truth, and I just can't talk about 1989!!
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