Gato Del Sol
| Gato Del Sol | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Gray |
| Breeder | Arthur B. Hancock III & Leone J. Peters |
| Owner | Arthur B. Hancock III & Leone J. Peters |
| Trainer | 1) Edwin J. Gregson 2) Charles E. Whittingham 3) Howard M. Tesher |
| Record | 39: 7-9-7 |
| Earnings | $1,340,107 |
| Major wins | |
| Del Mar Futurity (1981) Cabrillo Handicap (1983) Caballero Handicap (1985) American Classic Race wins: (1982)Kentucky Derby | |
| Last updated on August 19, 2007 | |
Gato Del Sol (February 23, 1979 – August 7, 2007) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for his win in the 1982 Kentucky Derby.
Background
Gato Del Sol was a gray horse foaled at Stone Farm in Paris, Kentucky. He was sired by the Chilean horse Cougar, who enjoyed his greatest success in North America and was inducted into the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame. His dam Peacefully also produced the Prix Morny winner Tersa and was distantly related to the Melbourne Cup winner Beldale Ball.[2]
Gato Del Sol was owned and bred by Stone Farm proprietor Arthur B. Hancock III in partnership with one of his longtime clients, Manhattan real estate broker Leone J. Peters.[3] The two men also bred Risen Star, winner of the 1988 Preakness and Belmont Stakes. He was trained by Eddie Gregson.
Racing career
1981: two-year-old season
Gato Del Sol made his debut at
1982: three-year-old season
In his three-year-old campaign, Gato del Sol was winless going into the
Given little chance by Churchill Downs bettors against the favored Wood Memorial Stakes winner Air Forbes Won, Gato Del Sol was sent off at odds of 21-1, the third longest in the race. He trailed the nineteen-horse field in the 1¼ mile race early but under jockey Eddie Delahoussaye began making a move after half a mile. By the mile pole, he had moved up to fifth place. He continued to gain ground as the field moved down the homestretch, with six horses spread across the track racing head-to-head. By the final furlong marker, Gato Del Sol had moved to the lead by a half-length and then pulled away to win by 2½ lengths. He paid $44.40 to win, the 10th highest payoff in Derby history.
Following his Derby win, Gato Del Sol's handlers decided to bypass the Preakness Stakes with its shorter distance. Instead, they rested their horse for the 1½ mile Belmont Stakes. Their decision marked the first time in twenty-three years that the Kentucky Derby winner did not try for the Triple Crown. Gato Del Sol finished second in the Belmont Stakes, fourteen lengths behind Henryk de Kwiatkowski's colt, Conquistador Cielo.
Gato Del Sol raced on the
Later career
He returned to race on the
Retirement and stud record
Retired to stud duty at Stone Farm, Gato Del Sol had little success as a sire. He was eventually sold and in 1993 ended up at a breeding operation in Germany, where he continued to underperform. In 2000, his original co-owner, Arthur Hancock III, and his wife Staci bought Gato Del Sol back in order to eliminate any possibility that he be subjected to the same fate as another American champion, Exceller, who was killed in a Swedish slaughterhouse.
Pensioned, Gato Del Sol spent the remainder of his days on the farm where he was foaled. On August 7, 2007, he was euthanized because of health complications at the age of 28.[6]
Pedigree
| Sire Cougar (CHI) 1966 |
Tale of Two Cities (GB) 1951 |
Tehran | Bois Roussel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stafaralla | |||
| Merida | Jock | ||
| Torissima | |||
| Cindy Lou (CHI) 1955 |
Madara | Nearco | |
| Sun Princess | |||
| Maria Bonita | Afghan | ||
| Las Palmas | |||
| Dam Peacefully (USA) 1973 |
Jacinto (USA) 1962 |
Bold Ruler | Nasrullah |
| Miss Disco | |||
| Cascade | Precipitation | ||
| Marita | |||
| Morning Calm (USA) 1962 |
Hail To Reason | Turn-To | |
| Nothirdchance | |||
| Yellow Mist | Hierocles | ||
| Silver Fog (Family: A1)[2] |
References
- ^ a b "Gato Del Sol pedigree". Equineline.
- ^ a b "Janus Mare Number 1 - Family A1". Thoroughbred Bloodlines.
- ^ "Leone Peters, 76, Dies; Real-Estate Chairman". The New York Times. 7 June 1988.
- ^ Los Angeles Times – July 16, 1982
- ^ Miami News – August 7, 1982
- ^ Lowe, Jeff (2007-08-08). "Kentucky Derby winner Gato Del Sol euthanized at 28". Thoroughbred Times. Retrieved 2007-08-09.
- Stone Farm tribute to Gato Del Sol
- Gato Del Sol's Kentucky Derby details and video at the Churchill Downs official Derby website
Trivia
- Not only was Gato del Sol the first Derby winner for Arthur Hancock III, he was the first Derby winner owned by a member of the famed Hancock family of Claiborne Farm, whose business was primarily breeding. Arthur later won a second Derby title as owner of Sunday Silence.
- Stone Farm is a sponsor of the University of Kentucky Solar Car Team, with Gato Del Sol serving as the namesake for the team's solar-powered cars.
- Gato Del Sol was the partial namesake of Gastr Del Sol; Post Rock outfit headed by Louisville native David Grubbs.