Giacomo (Reprinted with the permission of photographer, Emily Shields. Copyright Emily Shields) |
So many colts come to the Kentucky Derby as something less than favourites. But Giacomo’s story reminds us that each colt who steps on the track that first Saturday in May wears the hopes and dreams of his connections. It is this truth that makes every Kentucky Derby a pageant of possibility….
Giacomo and Steve Willard (Reprinted with the permission of photographer Emily Shields. Copyright Emily Shields) |
The 2005 Kentucky Derby went off with favourites like Bellamy Road (2002), who had won the Wood Memorial in a style that conjured up images of Secretariat’s Belmont, Afleet Alex (2002) winner of the Arkansas Derby, Wilko (2002) the 2001 BC Juvenile winner and High Fly (2002), the winner of the Florida Derby and Fountain of Youth. But at the wire, it was a grey roan with a huge heart that grabbed the roses, in the form of Jerry and Ann Moss’ Giacomo (2002). The cover of the May 14, 2005 Blood-Horse said it all: “Shockomo.” But we doubt that trainer John Shirreffs was entirely surprised, even though he appeared overwhelmed. So overwhelmed that he had to be stopped by the press corps from simply leading his Derby winner back to the barn after the colt’s photo was taken in the winner’s enclosure.
The eye of a champion (Reprinted with the permission of photographer Emily Shields. Copyright Emily Shields) |
Today, the names of Giacomo’s owners, trainer and racing manager, Dottie Ingordo Shirreffs are familiar enough to feel like extended family to racing fans and turf writers alike. But in 2005, most of us would have needed a Steve Haskin or a Barbara Livingston or a Steve Byk to help us identify the members of “Team Giacomo.” As often happens, Kentucky Derby winners spotlight the careers of people who are no strangers to horse racing, even though they may never have had a horse that grabbed the public’s attention.
But for those who had fallen in love with Giacomo’s sire, the great Holy Bull(1991) and knew the bright-eyed and highly professional Mike Smith, the day must have been particularly sweet. Holy Bull, an extraordinary colt, had lost his bid for the 1994 Kentucky Derby and it had been claimed by his owner and trainer, Warren A. “Jimmy” Croll Jr. that unnamed conspirators had drugged the horse. To his dying day, Croll insisted that his horse had been given Halcion before the race, even though no blood test was ever taken. “They got to my horse,” Croll told the Los Angeles Times. There was no question that Holy Bull was not himself on Derby day. He broke slowly and appeared dazed and lethargic, finishing 12th in a 14-horse field. Holy Bull would go on to dominate his other races in such a convincing fashion that he won the 1994 Horse of the Year. For his many fans, witnessing a son of Holy Bull take the Kentucky Derby — and take it with a flourish — must have felt like the vindication of a loss that remains controversial.
The outstanding Holy Bull winning the 1994 Florida Derby |
As for the rest of Team Giacomo, much could be said — even before Zenyatta danced into their lives. Jerry and Ann Moss had had their first stakes winner, Lovely Robbery(1978) in 1981 and at the time of their 2005 Derby victory boasted no less than 39 other stakes-winners. The Mosses owned some exceptional individuals, including Rulhmann (1985) a beast of a colt who set a track record at Santa Anita in 1989 that stands today, the 1994 Kentucky Oaks winner, Sardula (1991) and Set Them Free (1990), winner of the Pasadena Stakes, Debutante Breeders’ Cup, as well as the Very Subtle and Eloquent Handicaps. Their horses were trained by notables like Charley Whittingham, Bobby Frankel, Richard Mandella and Brian Mayberry.
By May 2005, John Shirreffs’ name was associated with “millionaire fillies” like George Krikorian’s Hollywood Story (2001) and Starrer (1998), as well as Marshall Naify’s Manistique (1995). Shirreffs also trained Tarlow (2001), a filly who won the Santa Margarita Invitational and La Canada Stakes for the Mosses.
The “wormhole” aspect lies in the kind of relationship the Mosses, the Shirreffs, Mike Smith and Giacomo’s handlers formed with their grey colt. You can hear it in the quotes from Derby day 2005. You see it in the photos.
Jerry & Ann Moss in Giacomo caps (Copyright Getty Images) |
“…It’s a dream come true to be here. This is a business filled with hope and I think our world needs hope…” (Ann Moss on Giacomo’s Kentucky Derby victory, 2005)
John Shirreffs and the Mosses meet the press at Pimlico, 2005 |
” …It started when my horse landed. I was with Jerry and Ann Moss and my wife, Dottie, and we’re following my horse to Churchill Downs and we’re behind the van. I was thinking this is just a great feeling coming back to Kentucky with Giacomo, running in the Kentucky Derby. It almost brought tears to my eyes just thinking about this Kentucky-bred horse running in the biggest race in Kentucky. It was sort of singular, spectacular –it was a great moment.” (trainer John Shirreffs, 2005)
An exquisite portrait of Giacomo, taken by photographer Emily Shields and reprinted with her permission here. (Copyright Emily Shields) |
“…She’s been a source of great faith and hope and if she says it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. She’s a great manager and I don’t know what we’d do without her.We live in a state of gratitude.” (Jerry Moss on Dottie Ingordo-Shirreffs, the Mosses racing manager, 2005)
Dottie Ingordo-Shirreffs (dark glasses) with Penny Chenery and Ann Moss |
“…just to have made it here was amazing and to have won it, I can’t even describe it.” (Mike Smith after Giacomo’s Derby victory, 2005)
To the Winner’s Circle! Mike Smith shares a characteristic salute following Giacomo’s Derby win |
“With the Mosses every decision made from morning until night is about what’s best for the horse. It’s a beautiful philosophy. Teaching is all about individual differences. You find that one thing that can help a child find a better life. You turn one key and that child’s life can change , and it’s the same with horses.” (Dottie Ingordo-Shirreffs, a former teacher and the Mosses racing manager, reflecting on Giacomo’s Derby win, 2005)
Giacomo came to Churchill Downs as a 50-1 longshot, so things were pretty quiet for Shirreffs and company on the backstretch in the days prior to the Derby. But had anyone ventured by, they would have caught trainer and horse out enjoying a little “quality time” together. Shirreffs would tilt back his cap, lean forward and look deeply into Giacomo’s eyes. Then the two would just stand there for minutes at a time, eye-to-eye, speaking the language of equus. At last, there would be an affectionate rub on the forehead, another long pause and the colt would resume grazing. It was clear that trainer and horse shared a very special connection.
Eye-to-eye: John Shirreffs and Giacomo (Reprinted with the permission of Emily Shields. Copyright Emily Shields.) |
One can imagine the Mosses’ sense of the magic of thoroughbred racing, since their Derby winner didn’t particularly stand out as a youngster. He was a nicely balanced foal and grew into a yearling with physical attributes from both Holy Bull and his dam, Set Them Free. And –like all thoroughbreds — Giacomo was the product of a number of outstanding ancestors, going back on his sire line as far as American Eclipse (1855) and the 1898 Kentucky Derby winner, Plaudit (1895). Plaudit was also a half-brother of Hastings (1893), the grandsire of Man O’ War.
But it still would take pedigree knowledge and a trained eye to see the potential in the otherwise unremarkable grey colt.
American Eclipse |
Every pedigree divulges great stories and Giacomo’s was no different. In an weirdly ironic twist, Plaudit’s grandson Spur (1913) produced a son named — wait for it! — Sting (1921). Owned and bred by James Butler, Sting won the Eclipse and Wakefield Stakes at 2, the Empire City Handicap at 3 and in his best season, at 4, he took the Metropolitan, Suburban, Montana, Excelsior and Salvator Handicaps. Sting set no less than three track records from 1924 through to 1925.
So it would seem that Giacomo had the influence of Sting on both the top and bottom of his pedigree! (Set Them Free was named after the song of the same name recorded by The Police.) And, as many of you may know, Giacomo was named after singer-composer Sting’s son. There has to be some magic in that kind of a coincidence, wouldn’t you think?
Sting of The Police with Stewart Copeland |
Keeping an eye on John is a full-time job! (Reprinted with the permission of Emily Shields. Copyright Emily Shields) |
Nor did his sire’s genetic gifts end there. In Holy Bull’s fifth generation we find Better Self (1945), the son of Bimelech (1937) and Bee Mac (1941), a daughter of the great War Admiral (1934). Better Self went on to sire the American foundation mare, Aspidistra (1954) who, in turn, produced the remarkable filly Ta Wee (1966). And Ta Wee, through her son, Great Above (1972) was the grandam of Holy Bull.
War Admiral waits for his turn on the track. |
Bee Mac, pictured here by artist and author C. W. Anderson in his book, A Touch of Greatness (1945) |
Ta Wee, Bee Mac’s granddaughter |
Giacomo and Steve Willard…one almost sees a family resemblance to Bee Mac in this shot (Reprinted with the permission of Emily Shields. Copyright Emily Shields) |
Set Them Free brought gifts of her own. By Stop The Music (1970), a son of Hail To Reason (1958), Set Them Free also had a star-studded pedigree. On her sire line, both the champion Tom Fool (1949) and his sire, Menow (1935) are represented. Menow appears in the pedigrees of many distinguished thoroughbreds and traces back to Beeswing (1833), as well as a host of other champion thoroughbreds from both Great Britain and the USA. The Beeswing connection is always interesting — without fail, her name appears over and over in the pedigrees of outstanding individuals. The plucky little mare is always an indicator of both speed and stamina. (Readers interested in hearing more about Beeswing might go back to the post on Rachel Alexandra that appeared here in February.) Menow’s dam was Alcibiades (1927), another American foundation mare. Menow’s sire, Pharamond (1925), was a full brother to Sickle, a solid sire whose offspring include Reaping Reward (1934) and Stagehand (1935). Pharamond was also the half-brother of the influential sire, Hyperion(1930). A very successful individual on the turf, one of Menow’s most publicized races was his win in the 1933 Massachusetts Handicap, where he defeated War Admiral (1938). Set Them Free’s dam, Valseuse (1973) was a granddaughter of the mighty Bold Ruler (1954).
(Courtesy Blood-Horse Archives) |
Reprinted with the permission of Barbara Livingston |
Hail To reason, grandsire of Set Them Free |
Tom Fool at 3 yrs. with groom. He was Set Them Free’s great grandsire. (Copyright The Chicago Tribune) |
Menow as a colt with trainer, Duval A. Headley. Menow sired Tom Fool. (Copyright The Baltimore Sun) |
Alcibiades, dam of Menow |
Bold Ruler, another grandsire of Set Them Free, pictured here with “Sunny” Jim Fitzsimmons (Copyright The Chicago Tribune) |
The power of Giacomo (Reprinted with the permission of Emily Shields. Copyright Emily Shields) |
There was wisdom in Dottie Ingordo-Shirreffs reflections about the 2005 Kentucky Derby: students and thoroughbreds will always run their hearts out when they are handled with patience, love and faith. So it was that the 50-1 long shot, under the skilled hands of Mike Smith, threaded his way through horses and then unleashed his run in the final stretch, catching Closing Argument (2002) at the wire. It was the first Derby win for his team and, six years later, they still glow when they reminisce about Giacomo’s victory. It was a shining moment, meant to be cherished forever.
Giacomo and his faithful companion, Frank Leal, at the Breeders Cup (Reprinted with the permission of Emily Shields. Copyright Emily Shields) |
In a rare press conference before the 2010 Breeders Cup, John Shirreffs described meeting Giacomo in the winner’s circle just after the Derby. The trainer’s eyes were striking as he spoke, reliving the moment as though it were yesterday:
” … I looked up at Giacomo and I looked in his eyes and {I knew that} he gave it a hundred percent, everything he had, that afternoon … a supreme race horse … he found a way through and dug down deep. I looked in his eyes and they were a little cloudy. He was fighting fatigue…he had given it everything he had…”
There is probably no greater acknowledgement of Giacomo’s victory on that first Saturday in May 2005 than John Shirreffs’ reflections. Calling upon a heart that had come down to him from a small army of courageous ancestors, Giacomo had answered all that was asked of him with the determination and grace of a champion.
Giacomo and Mike Smith (outside) get up to win the 2005 Kentucky Derby (Copyright protected photo by Amelia Baldree) |
Following an authoritative victory in the 2006 San Diego Handicap, the Mosses’ talented colt was retired with earnings of over two million dollars.
Giacomo stands at Adena Springs near Midway, Kentucky and is proving to be an outstanding young sire with a bright future ahead of him. Team Giacomo always visit their Derby winner whenever they are in Kentucky — there is no chance that the now snowy-white stallion will ever be forgotten by those who know and love him best.
Giacomo at Adena Springs (Reprinted with the permission of Emily Shields. Copyright Emily Shields) |
Recently, Blood-Horse visited Giacomo and below is the video report. As you watch, listen very carefully to the descriptions of Giacomo’s personality and what he has come to expect from people.
Could there be any better tribute to Team Giacomo than this?
NEXT WEEK: THE VAULT’s Kentucky Derby series continues with “A Derby Gazette,” featuring a number of thoroughbreds who won the Kentucky Derby between 1918-1953.
>Thank you! I love Giacomo. I indeed did have a sizeable bet on him derby day in large part due to being a huge Holy Bull fan. Visited him last year at Adena Springs, lovely kind stallion. Thank you so much for the quotes and photos. This just made my day.
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>Abigail – what a wonderful tribute to Giacomo. The history you have outlined is amazing. I'm heading to KY this summer and hope I will be able to see Giacomo at Adena Springs. Thanks for the memories and the great video. Pat in Kenora, ON
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>Pat: Thanks so much for taking the time to write! It's just wonderful to hear back from a reader who really loved Giacomo — a wonderful thoroughbred who was so maligned by the press after his Derby win. But he'll make his mark as a sire, I'm certain of that. And when you visit, please give him a kiss or a pat or a peppermint from me! Abigail
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>Abigail, thank you so much for doing this story on Giacomo! Your research into his background story, his pedigree and all the photos give so much more depth to what I've previously ever heard about him. Giacomo was the first horse that I noticed from the Shirreffs barn and owned by the Mosses, so because of knowing their history a little bit, I watched a race some years back with a big beautiful bay mare, and thence forth fell in love. So now it is cool to get to look back at the circle and learn more about the beginning. Thank you!
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Abigail, I’d like to nominate “Old Friends.” Michael Blowen is TRULY dedicated to this unique rescue and it is deserving of every penny donated. Thanks!
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Hi Tracy.
Even though we had other nominees, I agree. I think our first donation should go to “Old Friends.” This new site is ad-free so we’re all going to need to be extra creative to come up with money-making schemes. But thanks for writing to me. After the events of yesterday (ugh!) I needed to know that you were all getting my message! Please remember to subscribe! Fond regards, Abigail
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I saw Giacomo when he was a stallion at Magali Farms years back after he left Ky. He was all white. Then I read that Farm was so,d and he went to either Washington or Oregon Farm. I hope he is being followed carefully. So much has changed in the Moss family. I’m writing this is 2020. During the pandemic when so much of our lives have been altered. I’m catching up on your blog. Thank you. I knew a DDA NAMED Giacomo and my nephew was at the KD. I asked him to place a bet on Closing Argument and Afleet Alex. I noticed Giacomo on the program and he went to try and place a bet on him but the race had started. Kinda like the fish stories one hears. I made a great bet on the longshot CArgument but even if I had got the bet I never would have cashed the ticked just like I’ve never cashed a MTB Ticket either. I wish Giacomo good health and a happy life. I’d love to know where he is now living.
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Hi Delrene: Lovely to hear from you! I’m certain that the Mosses even though divorced and esp. Dottie, who I take it is still their racing manager, will always make certain that Giacomo has the best of lives. It’s just a shame that he hasn’t been more used; after all he’s a son of the great Holy Bull and Giacomo was a very good runner himself. Take care and do stay safe! Abigail
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Oh Abigail I am so glad you were able to save everything!
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I KNOW! Had I not gone on there last night, I could have lost everything!!!!!
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Whew! I’m glad you were able to save the contents of the blog also, but it has taken me a while to find where/how to sign up for email notification of new posts. The blogger site was easy to get to from other blogs I follow, but with the email this should work out also. Thank you for all you do!
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Celeste: How kind of you to take the time to comment. I’m sorry that the email bit is a bother though. What a weekend! And I thought it would only be about watching the Arkansas Derby!!!!
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Poor Abigail, I can imagine what you went through trying to save all this work. Ugh! viruses, the bane of the internet. I’m so grateful you were able to do it and quickly find a new host. Well done!
I’m in agreement with Old Friends due to their current financial difficulties. Hoping some of their BIG sponsors will also heed the call.
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Thanks for taking the time to write, Sherry. It means a lot always but especially this weekend! Abigail
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what a great tribute to Giacomo and all his connections.
I love this website. followed it from Zenyatta’s website.
Articles and pictures are amazing. I have learned so much.
Thank you . A safe racing weekend to all horses and riders for this Preakness Derby weekend.
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Hello Delrene! Thank you so much for the lovely comments! They are HUGELY appreciated. My goal is to write for the racing fan who, as I said on my blog page, is the heart of the sport as much as are these great thoroughbreds. It’s ironic that you came here from Zenyatta’s site, because i’m still another example of being inspired by Zenny and her team, as well as by Steve Haskin, who encouraged me to start THE VAULT after I wrote a piece about Zenyatta on Hangin’ With Haskin before Zenny got her HOTY. My career was in education but one of my greatest lifelong passions are horses, especially the thoroughbred. I think each horse/thoroughbred is a “gift” & I wanted to help the industry by showing how many amazing ancestors every thoroughbred has. i’m so glad you enjoyed the articles & photos! (The Haskin piece is the very first posting on the blog, in case you missed it!) Abigail
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