1992 Kentucky Derby Bet Was Arazi
Pennsylvania-bred Lil E. Tee Catches Europe's Horse of the Year
Apr 26, 2009
Demonstrating compelling, hard knocks determination in the 1992 Kentucky Derby, Lil E. Tee chased down the exhausted favorite Arazi and claimed a classic championship when the odds were very much against him. Veteran survivor Pat Day was in E. Tee's saddle that day with perhaps just the guiding hand at the right time to encourage E. Tee to hit the grandest of winners' circles.
Lil E. Tee Overcomes Ownership Changes
E. Tee's nickname was partially derived from the movie character, E. T. The Extra-Terrestrial because the colt's cry of hunger when he was a foal sounded similar to the pathetic, homesick sounds E. T. made in the film. Most of E. Tee's young training life was a squeak for attention.
Passed from one owner to another, E. Tee's physical presence and capability were not attention getters early on until a conditioner named Charles Wienike picked up on what he thought might be a colt-in-waiting with a winning attitude. Wienike and E. Tee had a Tom Smith--Seabiscuit moment.
Jockey Pat Day Hooks E. Tee
Two more owners down the line landed E. Tee with Cal Partee and jockey Day, both of whom liked E. Tee's Kentucky Derby prospects. Day was particularly keen to win a wreath of roses at Churchill Downs. From nine Derby races, Day was still looking for his first win in the classic.
At the age of thirty-eight, Day had found the finish line in almost every other prestigious race.
On Derby day, jockey and horse patiently traveled behind the pack until an opening appeared, then they gave chase to the leaders, Casual Lies and Arazi. Arazi tired and E. Tee raced Casual Lies to the wire, arriving there first by a length.
Lil E. Tee became the first Pennsylvania-bred to capture a Kentucky Derby title.
1992 Kentucky Derby Card and Finish
- No. 1 --- Lil E. Tee, by 1 length ----- Owner, W. Cal Partee
- No. 2 --- Casual Lies, by 3-1/4 ----- Shelley L. Riley
- No. 3 --- Dance Floor, by 2 ----- Oaktown Stable
- No. 4 --- Conte Di Savoya, by 1 ----- Jaime S. Carrion
- No. 5 --- Pine Bluff ----- Loblolly Stable
- No. 6 --- Al Sabin ----- Calumet Farm
- No. 7 --- Dr Devious (IRE) ----- Sidney H. Craig
- No. 8 --- Arazi ----- A. Paulson & Sheikh Mohammed
- No. 9 --- My Luck Runs North ----- Melvin A. Benitez
- No.10 --- Technology ----- Scott Savin
- No.11 --- West by West ----- John Peace
- No.12 --- Devil His Due ----- Lion Crest Stable
- No.13 --- Thyer ----- Maktoum al Maktoum
- No.14 --- Ecstatic Ride ----- DanDar Farm & Joan Rich
- No.15 --- Sir Pinder LBb ----- James Lewis Jr.
- No.16 --- Pistols and Roses ----- Willis Family Stables
- No.17 --- Snappy Landing ----- Frederick McNeary
- No.18 --- Disposal ----- Bramble Farm
- Race Fractions: -- :23.44, :47.90, 1:12.37, 1:37.72, 2:03.04
- Weight Assignments: all horses, 126 lbs.
Lil E. Tee Total Race Record
- 1991 --- (age two) --- 4 starts, 2 firsts, 2 seconds, 0 thirds --- Earnings, $29,106
- 1992 --- 6 - 3 - 1 - 1 --- $1,148,000
- 1993 --- 3 - 2 - 1 - 0 --- $260,400
- Totals ----- 13- 7 - 4 - 1 ---$1,437,506
Lil E. Tee -- Short Pedigree
Lil E. Tee, a bay colt, was sired by At the Threshold and foaled by Eileen's Moment.
At the Threshold was sired by Norcliffe and out of Winver. Norcliffe, by Buckpasser--Drama School. Winver, by Vertex--Windsor Lady.
Eileen's Moment was sired by For the Moment and out of Sailaway. For the Moment, by What a Pleasure--Tularia. Sailaway, by foreign stock Hawaii--Quick Wit.
Lil E. Tee Death
On March 18, little over a week before the death of America's great champion Alysheba, Lil E. Tee was euthanized at Old Frankfort Stud near Frankfort, Kentucky because of an intestinal problem that resulted in colic and equilibrium difficulties. E. Tee was 20 years old.
