Who Owned Spend A Buck, the Famed 1985 Kentucky Derby Winner? The Complete Story
Hey there racing fans! As an expert in horse racing history, I wanted to provide the complete story behind Spend A Buck‘s thrilling Kentucky Derby win in 1985. This legendary horse defined an era in the sport, so let‘s break down his journey to Derby glory.
Pedigree and Early Years
Spend A Buck was foaled in 1982 at Tartan Farms in New Jersey. His sire was 1977 Kentucky Derby champ Buckfinder, while his dam was a mare named Belle de Jour. Owner Dennis Diaz bred Spend A Buck through his Tartan Farm operation.
As a young racehorse, Spend A Buck flourished under trainer Cam Gambolati. He won his first five career starts as a two-year-old, earning $441,905 in purses. His early dominance earned him the 1984 American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt title – high praise for a juvenile.
Preparing for the Kentucky Derby
Entering his three-year-old campaign, expectations were high for Spend A Buck. He kicked off 1985 with a win in the Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct. His jockey Angel Cordero Jr. guided him to a half-length win over future rival Chief‘s Crown.
Next up was the Garden State Stakes at Garden State Park in New Jersey. Spend A Buck accelerated powerfully down the stretch to take the victory on a sloppy track. Cordero called him "an exceptional horse" after this effort.
The final Derby prep came in the April 20th Garden State Stakes. Under Cordero, Spend A Buck romped by 8 lengths despite poor weather and foot issues. The horse demonstrated both speed and stamina, fueling hopes for Derby glory.
"No words can express how brilliant he was," Cordero said. "This horse is super, he can do anything."
This dominating win made Spend A Buck one of the clear Kentucky Derby favorites entering the Run for the Roses.
Spend A Buck‘s Run for the Roses
On May 4, 1985, Spend A Buck lined up in the Churchill Downs starting gate intent on making history. He broke cleanly and stalked the early pace under Angel Cordero Jr.
Turning into the final stretch, Cordero asked Spend A Buck for his best. The muscled bay responded, pulling away powerfully and crossing the wire 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Chief‘s Crown.
The official time was 2:00.2 over a sloppy track. Fans cheered wildly for this popular new champion who was about to make his owner a fortune.
Earning Over $1 Million and Racing Bonuses
By capturing the Kentucky Derby, Spend A Buck entered rarefied air as the first horse to win over $1 million in a single race. The total purse was $628,000, with $364,800 to owner Dennis Diaz.
Rather than chasing the Triple Crown, Diaz aimed Spend A Buck at a $2 million bonus offered for sweeping the Jersey Derby, Haskell, and Monmouth. Critics called it greed, but Diaz had a plan.
On May 27, Spend A Buck dominated in the 1 1/8 mile Jersey Derby at Garden State Park. He then headed to Monmouth and won the prestigious Haskell Invitational by an astonishing 9 lengths on July 27.
The final test came in the Monmouth Handicap on August 17. Under his trusted rider Cordero, Spend A Buck rallied to win by 1 1/4 lengths. This completed the three-race sweep and made him the first horse to ever earn the $2 million bonus.
"This is a great horse," said Diaz. "It takes a great horse to win these races."
Between the Derby and bonuses, Spend A Buck‘s 1985 earnings totaled a staggering $4,220,055 – far surpassing any other American racehorse at the time.
A Lasting Legacy
With his historic Kentucky Derby win, Spend A Buck ushered in a new era of seven-figure purses and bonuses in the sport. He set the mark for single-season earnings unlikely to ever be surpassed.
Spend A Buck also earned the 1985 Eclipse Award as Horse of the Year and champion three-year-old colt. Though his career was cut short by injury, he joined racing‘s Hall of Fame in 1994 as one of the all-time greats.
As a stallion, Spend A Buck sired over 30 stakes race winners like future Belmont Stakes champ Commendable. By any measure, his racing and breeding career puts him among the elites of thoroughbred racing.
So the next time you watch the Kentucky Derby, remember Spend A Buck and his legendary run into history. It took an all-time great horse, jockey, trainer, and owner to pull off these accomplishments and forever transform the sport‘s earning potential.