Giacomo hits No. 1 on charts
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Jockey Mike Smith and trainer John Shirreffs kept saying that Giacomo was a good horse. No one would listen.
Turns out the colt with the musical connection was a surprising hit at the Kentucky Derby.
Named for the 9-year-old son of singer Sting, Giacomo pulled the second-biggest upset in Derby history Saturday, winning at 50-1 odds.
Giacomo finished a half-length ahead of Closing Argument, an even longer shot at 72-1.
After 12 tries, Smith finally got into the Derby winner’s circle, carried by the son of Holy Bull, one of his previous Derby losers.
“I’m so numb,” he said. “When I stood up at the wire, all the strength left my body and I was hanging on for dear life.”
The victory was a sweet score for owners Jerry and Ann Moss of Los Angeles. He founded A&M Records with trumpeter Herb Alpert of Tijuana Brass fame. The ‘70s pop duo the Carpenters were one of the former label’s biggest acts.
“It was hit records that got me here,” Moss said, “but this is a pretty great thing.”
Holding a huge bouquet of red roses and wearing a traditional Derby hat, Ann Moss said, “This is a dream come true.”
Sting is a friend of the couple, who owned Giacomo’s mother, Set Them Free – the name of a hit song for the British rock star. They named another of their horses Styler, the last name of Sting’s wife, Trudie.
At the start, Moss gripped his binoculars, trying to follow Giacomo and Smith, who were buried in 18th place behind an early blistering pace.
“It was not the easiest race to see from where we were. There’s stuff in the way,” Moss said. “I noticed going around the turn he was getting at least into contention.”
As Moss caught more glimpses of his horse, he noticed Giacomo was running hard and realized there was still time to overtake Afleet Alex.
“I looked at Annie and we’re jumping up and down,” Moss said. “Ann knew it was over before I did.”
Shirreffs couldn’t see too well from his position at track level, either. He finally picked up Giacomo near the fourth-sixteenths pole, identifying the horse by the white shadow roll that keeps his eyes focused on the track.
“He just started gobbling up the ground and I thought, ‘Wow, we have a chance to hit the board,’ then, ‘Oh no, we might even win it.’ It was awesome,” he said.
Shirreffs had repeatedly assured Moss and his wife that Giacomo was doing well. His results showed just the opposite.
The colt came into the Derby with one victory in seven career races, including a 0-for-3 mark this year.