#10 Giacomo is a "Ten"

Perhaps Giacomo's lucky number is ten.

Perhaps Smith's lucky number is twelve. After all, it was Smith's twelfth attempt at the Kentucky Derby.

Sting's records were produced by A&M Records. The "M" in A&M stands for Jerome S. Moss, who bred and owns Giacomo with his wife, Ann. Moss founded the record company with trumpeter and bandleader Herb Albert, the "A" in A&M in 1962, of Herb Albert & The Tijuana Brass.

One of the record labels A&M helped distribute between 1974 - 1976 was George Harrison's Dark Horse Records.

Jerry Moss said:

This is about as up there as you can get. It was hit records that got me here, but this is a pretty great thing.

Perhaps it was the spirit of Herb Albert's hit song "The Lonely Bull" helping to carry Giacomo and Smith to the finish line.

Perhaps it was John Shirreffs' training.

Smith said:

John Shirreffs is just an amazing trainer.

Every race was just a little step forward, a little step forward. He didn't want him exactly right until today -- and he got him perfect.

Or perhaps it was the spirit of Giacomo's heralded father, Holy Bull, who lost the Kentucky Derby in 1994, cheering on his son.

Smith had also ridden Giacomo's sire, 1994 Horse of the Year Holy Bull, in that year's Derby, when the 2 - 1 favorite was bumped coming out of the gate and finished 12th.

Mike Smith said after the race,

... I've been telling (people) that this colt, since the first time I got on him, before he ever ran, that he was going to redeem his father's name in the Kentucky Derby.

Perhaps it was Giacomo's mother, Set Them Free, once owned by Sting.

Set Them Free is the name of a hit song for the British rock star.

Whatever the case may be, Giacomo, Holy Bull, Set Them Free, Smith, Shirreffs, Pincay's saddle and the Moss family go down in the history books, forever.

Congratulations to Kentucky Derby 131st Winner Giacomo!

2005 Kentucky Derby Winners - Sherrifs, Smith & Moss

Congratulations to Mike Smith, the jockey who chose the right saddle and the right horse.

Congratulations to the horse's owners Jerry and Ann Moss, and Happy Birthday to Mr. Moss, who turned 70 on Sunday.

Congratulations to Giacomo's trainer John Shirreffs, the third consecutive trainer to win with his first Derby starter.

And congratulations to all those whose investment in the dark horse paid off.

Giacomo became only the second Derby winner to pay triple digits. In 1913, Donerail's payoff was Donerail at $184.90.

The Moss family received the largest first-place award check ever of $1,639,600 for Giacomo and Smith's victory. Before Saturday, Giacomo's career earnings totaled $226,716.

We'll be looking for Giacomo on May 21st at The Preakness.

Last but not least, thanks to my Aunt Min in Denver who loves horses even more than I do, for inspiring me to write this story.

Inspire & Be Inspired.

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful, "sittin' on the right saddle and horse" living!