Damascus … where do we begin? He was a legend, a Horse of the Year, a dual classic winner, a millionaire when earning a $1 million was still a challenging task.

He also was quite a personality. Damascus, understandably, preferred for his world to be just right. He was fond of a stable pony named Duffy, who had a calming effect on his often high-strung nerves. In fact, Damascus’ defeat in the Kentucky Derby was attributed to the colt getting upset and stressed before the race due to the absence of Duffy.

Jockey Jeff Fell knew what a good horse looked like. He’d ridden plenty of them—Pleasant Colony, Timely Writer, Winter’s Tale, Private Account, It’s in the Air, even Alydar. He knew, as did horsemen and racing fans and bettors across the country, that Conquistador Cielo was a good horse, possibly even a budding superstar.