DrugS I would answer 1982. Gato Del Sol!

"Gato won the Derby in 1982, paying box cars, and beat a horse called Laser Light, who I thought could not lose. I bet my conviction, yet making $166 dollars a week, gross, working six days a week at Claiborne farm, I was not exactly well heeled.

Since I was going to the Derby, the farm workers gave me money to bet, and as a group, strongly supported Gato Del Sol. He was a plodder of modest ability, owned by Arthur Hancock, who lost the keys to Claiborne, to his brother Seth, when their father passed away. Arthur, who then and now, operates Stone farm, was better liked and had told many he would win.

The Thursday before the Derby, Eddie Maple the regular rider of Laser Light came out to look at some of his mares, who were boarded at Claiborne. John Sosby, the farm manager allowed me some questions. Eddie assured me, quite believably, that "he would be on the board somewhere".

I bet both horses across the board, repeatedly, and they ran one, two at box cars! When I got to the Claiborne foaling barn about 2 am, I had money literally falling out of my pockets.

The following Monday Arthur said they were skipping the Preakness and the media treated him like dirt. It was the right move for the horse. BBB