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American Morning

Winningest Jockey of All Times Hopes for Derby Win

Aired May 04, 2001 - 11:18   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Hall-of-fame jockey Gary Stevens will be aboard Point Given at Churchill Downs tomorrow. Also, another man, no less than the winningest jockey of all times, will be among his competitors. CNN Sports Illustrated's Tom Rinaldi has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM RINALDI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The sport has its specific soil, its own table of elements, the watchful eyes and willing gamblers, the well-bred stars and stable mates, and on top of the sport, it's small men riding huge risk trying to mount glory.

Like all things, racing is governed by the greatest element, time. There is a start. And there is a finish, for most, anyway. For Laffit Pincay, Jr. the home stretch seems like might last forever.

LAFFIT PINCAY, JOCKEY: I'm pretty sure some people say, "Well, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) jockey, he might -- I don't think he can win the Derby."

RINALDI: It doesn't look like ride to retirement, does it? At this point, Pincay seems like an element of the sport itself. He has more wins than any jockey in history, more than 9,100 and counting. He won 200 one-times in 2000 and won two of the last three riding titles here in racing's most competitive circuit in southern California. If he isn't defeating time outright, he is winning his share.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think that Laffit has got the recognition for what he has accomplished at age 54 and what he accomplishes and is continuing to accomplish. And now he's got a legitimate Derby contender.

RINALDI: That contender is Millennium Win, half-brother to '99 Derby and Preakness champion Charismatic. While Point Given is this year's clear favorite, having a horse to believe in carries Pincay back to his one win in the Derby, A Top Swale (ph), back in 1984.

PINCAY: I remember by the last stretch, I said, "I think I am going to win this thing." And I kept riding my horse. And all of a sudden, I said, "I'm going to win it." And when I crossed the wire, I just stood up. And I let a scream.

I don't remember what I said. But I know I let out a scream. And, I mean, it was just unbelievable. The feeling is fantastic.

RINALDI (on camera): Laffit Pincay, Jr. is trying to become the second 54-year-old to win the Kentucky Derby. The other is a jockey by the name of Shoemaker (ph), who back in 1986 aboard Ferdinand.

This will be Pincay's twentieth trip to the run for the roses. He has won once. And he certainly knows the pain of not winning.

PINCAY: There were many times when I thought I had a chance to win, and I didn't win it. And I was a bit letdown. I felt very bad. It would mean a lot to me to win. I'm already 54 years old. But if I don't this year, maybe next year. There's always next year.

RINALDI (voice-over): Everyone runs out of next years eventually and reaches his finish line. The home stretch is never eternal. But for Laffit Pincay, Jr., the poor boy from Panama who become a champion, the race will last a little longer still.

In Los Angeles, I'm Tom Rinaldi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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