Lucky_Debonair__1965_Kentucky

Lucky Debonair - winner 1965 Kentucky Derby

Ada and Dan Rice, owners of Lucky Debonair. Photo courtesy of Nikki Dahlin.

Vertex, sire of Lucky Debonair. Photo of Lucky Debonair's dam, Fresh as Fresh not available.

Trainer, Frank Catrone with Lucky Debonair. (photo Warren Klosterman with The Courier-Journal).

Breaking from the gate of the 1965 Kentucky Derby.

Lucky Debonair crossing the finish line. Photo courtesy of NBC Sports.

1965 Kentucky Derby postcard with Bill Shoemaker and Lucky Debonair.

Lucky Debonair in the winner's circle after winning the 1965 Kentucky Derby. photo courtesy of Sports Illustrated.

Dan and Ada Rice (second and third from the left) stand in the 1965 Kentucky Derby winner’s circle with Thoroughbred Lucky Debonair, jockey Willie Shoemaker and trainer Frank Catrone (third from the right). Photo by Churchill Downs and Kinetic Corporation.

Lucky Debonair by Allen F. Brewer, Jr., 1965

Brass memorial plaque dedicated to Lucky Debonair at Danada Equestrian Center in Wheaton, Illinois.

Lucky Debonair's plaque at the Thoroughbred Racing Walk of Champions in the historic downtown of the City of Arcadia, California.

Race Comments: LUCKY DEBONAIR broke alertly to show the way through the opening furlong, dropped back a bit when Shoemaker took a snug hold nearing the sixteenth marker, moved up again to engage FLAG RAISER midway of the first turn, continued to duel with that one while along the outside to the final quarter where he moved to the fore when sharply roused, moved off to a lengthy advantage through the upper stretch but was fully extended to turn back a belated bid from DAPPER DAN. The latter, away slowly and unhurried for six furlongs, moved up along the inside on leaving the backstretch, angled out sharply to launch his closing rally on the final turn and, responding to strong handling, was slowly getting to the winner. TOM ROLFE, in hand for a half mile, moved up boldly along the inside to engage the top flight at the half mile ground, dropped back a bit on rounding the second turn only to come again while under extreme pressure and finished gamely. NATIVE CHARGER, bumped while between horses entering the first turn, quickly recovered to remain in contention while along the outside to loom menacingly on the stretch turn and finished evenly in a good effort. HAIL TO ALL, slow to begin as usual, launched a rally on rounding the second turn and finished boldly while between horses through the closing drive. MR. PAK finished well, SWIFT RULER failed to reach contention. FLAG RAISER came out soon after the start to bump with CARPENTER'S RULE but was quickly straightened away to take a clear lead in the initial run through the stretch, came to the inside thereafter to be well-rated only to weaken badly through the closing drive. CARPENTER'S RULE was bumped soon after the start and failed to reach contention. BOLD LAD, outrun early, moved up on the outside in the backstretch to reach contention at the half mile pole, then continued well to top of stretch where he gave way badly. NARUSHUA showed forwardly for three-quarters and tired badly.