1990s Kentucky Derby Winners and Stories
Lil E. Tee Most Unlikely Run For the Roses Champion
Apr 13, 2009
Perhaps the most compelling Kentucky Derby story of the 1990s was that of Lil E. Tee, a colt with seemingly little potential who had fought off bad health from birth. A Pennsylvania-bred, he also did not possess an easily accepted pedigree for a run at the classic.
Trainers in the 1990s Winner's Circle
Three trainers dominated the Kentucky Derby winner's circle in the 1990s. While already enjoying their status as three of horse racing's best mentors, D. Wayne Lukas, Bob Baffert and Nick Zito collectively won seven of the Run for the Roses races, including those of the last six years of the decade.
Kentucky Derby Winners of the 1990s
- 1990 --- Unbridled ----- trainer, Carl A. Nafzger --- jockey, Craig Perret
- 1991 --- Strike the Gold ----- Nicholas P. Zito --- Chris Antley
- 1992 --- Lil E. Tee ----- Lynn S. Whiting --- Pat Day
- 1993 --- Sea Hero ----- MacKenzie Miller --- Jerry Bailey
- 1994 --- Go for Gin ----- Nicholas P. Zito --- Chris McCarron
- 1995 --- Thunder Gulch ----- D. Wayne Lukas --- Gary Stevens
- 1996 --- Grindstone ----- D. Wayne Lukas --- Jerry Bailey
- 1997 --- Silver Charm ----- Bob Baffert --- Gary Stevens
- 1998 --- Real Quiet ----- Bob Baffert --- Kent Desormeaux
- 1999 --- Charismatic ----- D. Wayne Lukas --- Chris Antley
Jockeys Passed Over Charismatic
Jerry Bailey, Chris McCarron, Mike Smith, and Lafitte Pincay, all top level riders of the day, did not want to ride Charismatic. Pre-race odds on the colt to win the Derby were 100-1.
More 1990s Kentucky Derby Tales
Grindstone became the little horse who could in the 1996 Derby. In a mini-nose win, he exhausted every inch of himself, and never raced again.
In 1995, jockey Mike Smith told jockey Gary Stevens that Thunder Gulch probably belonged with the other horses who would line up for the Derby. Smith took the ride aboard Talkin Man, finishing twelfth. Much to Smith's chagrin, Stevens won with Thunder Gulch.
Jockey Jerry Bailey got his first Kentucky Derby win aboard Sea Hero in 1993. His second Derby victory came three years later with Grindstone.
Jockey Chris Antley also captured two Derby wins in the 1990s, the first on Strike the Gold in 1991, and the second on Charismatic.
The 1990 Derby featured trainer Carl Nafzger's call of the race for ninety-two-year-old Thoroughbed owner Frances Genter, who won her first Run for the Roses with Unbridled.
Go for Gin's Derby in 1994 was later referred to as the "Demolition Derby" as almost the entire field was caught up in meanderings, clippings, and driftings. All except Go for Gin.
Real Quiet gave jockey Kent Desormeaux his first Derby win.
1997's Silver Charm ran in 51-degree weather on Derby day. It was the second coldest recording in history for the Run for the Roses.
