Winning Colors was just the third filly to win the Kentucky Derby, as well as the most recent female to show up the boys. She came into the race hot off a win, and while her handlers thought she would do well, they did not expect her to win.
She came through, winning by a neck after holding off an intense push by Forty-Niner to overtake her in the race's final seconds. After the race, owner Eugene Klein rejected offers as high as $7 million to sell Winning Colors. He said he paid around $575,000 for her.
“I’ve been in sports 25 or 30 years, and this is my biggest thrill,” Mr. Klein, who also owned the San Diego Chargers, told reporters.
