Gato Del Sol (USA)
February 23, 1979 – August 7, 2007
Cougar II (CHI) x Peacefully (USA), by Jacinto (USA)
American Family 1
February 23, 1979 – August 7, 2007
Cougar II (CHI) x Peacefully (USA), by Jacinto (USA)
American Family 1
As a racehorse, Gato del Sol was limited by his lack of tactical speed but was able to outstay his competition in the 1982 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1). He remained in training for three more seasons but did not particularly distinguish himself after his Classic victory and was a failure at stud
Race record
39 starts, 7 wins, 9 seconds, 7 thirds, US$1,340,107
1981:
1982:
1983:
1984:
1985:
Assessments
Rated at 118 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1981, 8 pounds below co-highweights Deputy Minister (the official divisional champion) and Timely Writer.
Rated at 121 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1982, 8 pounds below divisional champion and American Horse of the Year Conquistador Cielo.
Rated at 115 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1983, 9 pounds below champion Bates Motel.
Rated at 120 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf runners of 1984, 10 pounds below divisional champion and American Horse of the Year John Henry.
As an individual
A well-balanced gray horse standing 16 hands, Gato del Sol had high withers, a good shoulder and powerful hindquarters. He had a long stride and tended to come from far off the pace. His action was high in front, much like his sire's. He handled dirt and turf equally well. He was a sweet-natured horse even as a mature stallion.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Gato del Sol sired 87 winners (52.7%) and two stakes winners (1.2%) from 165 named foals.
Notable progeny of daughters
Things Change (USA)
Connections
Foaled at Stone Farm in Kentucky. Gato del Sol was bred and owned by Arthur Hancock III and Leone Peters. He was trained at different points in his career by Edwin Gregson (who trained him to his Derby win), Charles Whittingham and Howard Tesher. He was ridden to his Kentucky Derby win by Eddie Delahoussaye. He entered stud in 1986 at Stone Farm but in 1992 was sold for US$100,000 and exported to Germany to stand at Gestüt Görlsdorf, in hopes that he might do better in Europe as a sire of long-distance turf runners. This hope was disappointed, but at the insistence of Arthur Hancock's wife Staci, Gato del Sol was repatriated at the age of 20 (at a cost of US$5,500 to buy him and US$12,500 to ship him home) and returned to his birthplace as an honored pensioner. He was euthanized due to the infirmities of old age in August 2007 and was buried near the Hancocks' house on Stone Farm.
Pedigree notes
Gato del Sol is inbred 4x5 to two-time English champion sire Nearco, an unbeaten champion on the race course in Europe. He is also inbred 5x5 to 1936 Derby Stakes winner and 1946 American champion sire Mahmoud and 5x5 to the important broodmare Mumtaz Begum. He is a full brother to Echoes of Eternity, dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Golden Arches (by Common Grounds), who in turn is the dam of Grade 2 winner Grand Tito (by Candy Ride). Through Golden Arches' full sister Pretty One, Echoes of Eternity is also the second dam of 2015 Saudi Arabian champion 2-year-old male Dyamo.
Returning to Gato del Sol, he is also a half brother to 1988 French champion 2-year-old filly Tersa (by Mr. Prospector), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Rock Hard Ten (by Kris S.) and second dam of Mi Amigo Guelo, the champion imported 2-year-old male of 2000 in Puerto Rico; 2009 Cantala Stakes (AUS-G1) winner All American; and multiple Australian Group 2 winner More Strawberries. Gato del Sol and his siblings were produced from the stakes-winning mare Peacefully, whose sire Jacinto (by Bold Ruler) won the 1965 San Felipe Handicap.
A half sister to Early (by Double Jay; dam of stakes winner Not Now, by Just the Time), Peacefully is out of the non-winning Hail to Reason mare Morning Calm, whose half brother Sacred River (by Palestinian) was a stakes winner over hurdles. Also a half sister to Snow Crust (by Our John Wm.), second dam of Japanese Group 3 winner New Fan Fan, Morning Calm is out of Yellow Mist (by Hierocles), a winning half sister to 1959 American co-champion 3-year-old filly Silver Spoon (by Citation), 1965 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes winner Silver Bright (by Barbizon), 1966 Spinaway Stakes winner Silver True (by Hail to Reason) and four-time stakes winner The Searcher (by Phalanx).
Books and media
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photo taken by Mike Sekulic during the Breeders' Cup Turf (USA-G1) post parade on November 10, 1984. Used by permission.
Last updated: November 17, 2021
Race record
39 starts, 7 wins, 9 seconds, 7 thirds, US$1,340,107
1981:
- Won Del Mar Futurity (USA-G2, 8FD, Del Mar)
- 2nd Hollywood Prevue Stakes (USA, 7FD, Hollywood)
- 3rd Norfolk Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Balboa Stakes (USA, 8FD, Del Mar)
1982:
- Won Kentucky Derby (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Belmont Stakes (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Blue Grass Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Keeneland)
- 2nd San Felipe Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
1983:
- Won Cabrillo Handicap (USA, about 10FT, Del Mar)
- 2nd Del Mar Invitational Handicap (USA-G2, about 10FT, Del Mar)
1984:
- 2nd Oak Tree Invitational Stakes (USA-G1, 12FT, Santa Anita)
- 2nd San Luis Rey Stakes (USA-G1, 12FT, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Budwiser Million Stakes (USA-G1, 10FT, Arlington Park)
- 3rd Santa Anita Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Carleton F. Burke Handicap (USA-G2, 10FT, Santa Anita)
1985:
- Won Caballero Handicap (USA-L, 11FT, Hollywood)
- 2nd Premiere Handicap (USA-L, 8FT, Hollywood)
Assessments
Rated at 118 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1981, 8 pounds below co-highweights Deputy Minister (the official divisional champion) and Timely Writer.
Rated at 121 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1982, 8 pounds below divisional champion and American Horse of the Year Conquistador Cielo.
Rated at 115 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1983, 9 pounds below champion Bates Motel.
Rated at 120 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf runners of 1984, 10 pounds below divisional champion and American Horse of the Year John Henry.
As an individual
A well-balanced gray horse standing 16 hands, Gato del Sol had high withers, a good shoulder and powerful hindquarters. He had a long stride and tended to come from far off the pace. His action was high in front, much like his sire's. He handled dirt and turf equally well. He was a sweet-natured horse even as a mature stallion.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Gato del Sol sired 87 winners (52.7%) and two stakes winners (1.2%) from 165 named foals.
Notable progeny of daughters
Things Change (USA)
Connections
Foaled at Stone Farm in Kentucky. Gato del Sol was bred and owned by Arthur Hancock III and Leone Peters. He was trained at different points in his career by Edwin Gregson (who trained him to his Derby win), Charles Whittingham and Howard Tesher. He was ridden to his Kentucky Derby win by Eddie Delahoussaye. He entered stud in 1986 at Stone Farm but in 1992 was sold for US$100,000 and exported to Germany to stand at Gestüt Görlsdorf, in hopes that he might do better in Europe as a sire of long-distance turf runners. This hope was disappointed, but at the insistence of Arthur Hancock's wife Staci, Gato del Sol was repatriated at the age of 20 (at a cost of US$5,500 to buy him and US$12,500 to ship him home) and returned to his birthplace as an honored pensioner. He was euthanized due to the infirmities of old age in August 2007 and was buried near the Hancocks' house on Stone Farm.
Pedigree notes
Gato del Sol is inbred 4x5 to two-time English champion sire Nearco, an unbeaten champion on the race course in Europe. He is also inbred 5x5 to 1936 Derby Stakes winner and 1946 American champion sire Mahmoud and 5x5 to the important broodmare Mumtaz Begum. He is a full brother to Echoes of Eternity, dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Golden Arches (by Common Grounds), who in turn is the dam of Grade 2 winner Grand Tito (by Candy Ride). Through Golden Arches' full sister Pretty One, Echoes of Eternity is also the second dam of 2015 Saudi Arabian champion 2-year-old male Dyamo.
Returning to Gato del Sol, he is also a half brother to 1988 French champion 2-year-old filly Tersa (by Mr. Prospector), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Rock Hard Ten (by Kris S.) and second dam of Mi Amigo Guelo, the champion imported 2-year-old male of 2000 in Puerto Rico; 2009 Cantala Stakes (AUS-G1) winner All American; and multiple Australian Group 2 winner More Strawberries. Gato del Sol and his siblings were produced from the stakes-winning mare Peacefully, whose sire Jacinto (by Bold Ruler) won the 1965 San Felipe Handicap.
A half sister to Early (by Double Jay; dam of stakes winner Not Now, by Just the Time), Peacefully is out of the non-winning Hail to Reason mare Morning Calm, whose half brother Sacred River (by Palestinian) was a stakes winner over hurdles. Also a half sister to Snow Crust (by Our John Wm.), second dam of Japanese Group 3 winner New Fan Fan, Morning Calm is out of Yellow Mist (by Hierocles), a winning half sister to 1959 American co-champion 3-year-old filly Silver Spoon (by Citation), 1965 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes winner Silver Bright (by Barbizon), 1966 Spinaway Stakes winner Silver True (by Hail to Reason) and four-time stakes winner The Searcher (by Phalanx).
Books and media
- Gato del Sol is profiled in Chapter 11 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
- Gato del Sol is one of the older Thoroughbreds profiled in photographs and essays in Barbara Livingston's Old Friends: Visits With My Favorite Thoroughbreds (2002, The Blood-Horse, Inc.).
Fun facts
- After Claiborne Farm's “Bull” Hancock died in 1972, the farm's trustees passed over his elder son Arthur Hancock III (who had something of a wild reputation) for the farm's presidency in favor of his younger brother, Seth Hancock. Stung by the rejection, Arthur established Stone Farm and bent his energies toward outdoing Claiborne in producing an American Classic winner. The brothers eventually returned to good terms, but thanks to Gato del Sol, Arthur beat Seth by two years in coming up with a Kentucky Derby winner, a milestone Seth and Claiborne Farm achieved with Swale in 1984.
- Gato del Sol got his name partly from his sire's and partly because of the habit of a pet cat at Stone Farm of sleeping in patches of sunlight.
- Sam Ransom, who worked with the yearlings on Stone Farm, was high enough on Gato del Sol as a youngster that he insisted that the horse could win the Kentucky Derby. Arthur Hancock ended up hearing Ransom say that often enough that he finally replied, “Sam, if that horse wins the Derby, I'll buy you a brand new car.” Two years later, Hancock kept his word with a shiny new Lincoln for Ransom.
Photo credit
Photo taken by Mike Sekulic during the Breeders' Cup Turf (USA-G1) post parade on November 10, 1984. Used by permission.
Last updated: November 17, 2021