Posted on Mon, May. 09, 2005
Clue to Giacomo found in lyrics
'Horse that will never tire' perfect for grueling pace
By Maryjean Wall
HERALD-LEADER RACING WRITER
LOUISVILLE - Derby 131 in a nutshell: Ay, there's the Sting.
Nearly everyone overlooked 50-1 winner Giacomo on Saturday by paying too much attention to their Daily Racing Forms.
If only we'd all read something into the stuff that really counts -- like the lyrics to a song that Sting recorded and called Desert (could that be, Derby?) Rose.
Giacomo, son of Holy Bull and the $102.60 winner that hardly anyone picked, was named for Sting's young son by horse owner Jerry Moss, former owner of A&M Records.
And hidden in the Desert Rose lyrics was a clue perhaps portending of Giacomo's stunning Derby upset:
I dream of fire ... Those dreams are tied to a horse that will never tire.
Story of the race, right? Giacomo worked his way up from 18th position in the 20-horse field to beat Closing Argument and Afleet Alex in the final yards, with jockey Mike Smith up.