Genuine Risk (KY)

The second filly to win the Kentucky Derby, Genuine Risk was selected from the 1978 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale by 14-year-old Matthew Firestone, whose parents, Bert and Diana Firestone, paid $32,000 for the chestnut by Exclusive Native.

Inducted

1986

Foaled

1977

Sire

Exclusive Native

Dam

Virtuous

Damsire

Gallant Man

Breeder

Mrs. G. W. Humphrey, Jr.

Owner

Mrs. B. R. Firestone

Trainer

LeRoy S. Jolley

Career

1979-1981

Earnings

$646,587

Racing Record

15

Starts

Year	Starts	First	Second	Third	Earnings
Year	Sts	1	2	3	$
1979	4	4	0	0	$100245 $100,245
1980	8	4	3	1	$503742 $503,742
1981	3	2	0	1	$42600 $42,600

Biography

The second filly to win the Kentucky Derby, Genuine Risk was selected from the 1978 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale by 14-year-old Matthew Firestone, whose parents, Bert and Diana Firestone, paid $32,000 for the chestnut by Exclusive Native.

Trained by Hall of Famer LeRoy Jolley, Genuine Risk broke her maiden in her career debut in late September 1979 at Belmont Park. She won all four of her starts as a juvenile, including the Tempted Stakes by three lengths and the Demoiselle Stakes by a noise from Smart Angle.

As a 3-year-old, Genuine Risk opened her campaign with a March allowance win at Gulfstream Park and then took an overnight handicap at Aqueduct to run her win streak to six. Her connections opted to test her against colts in the Wood Memorial. Genuine Risk finished a credible third and it was decided she would contest the Kentucky Derby. It was the first time since 1959 that a filly had attempted the Derby,

At odds of 13-1, Genuine Risk settled off the pace in the 13-horse field. Under Hall of Fame jockey Jacinto Vasquez, Genuine Risk took the lead on the turn for home and defeated Rumbo by a length. Genuine Risk became the second filly, joining Regret (1915), to win the Kentucky Derby.

Genuine Risk then finished second to Codex in a controversial running of the Preakness Stakes. Vasquez filed an objection against Codex and jockey Angel Cordero, Jr., but the Maryland stewards let the result stand. Genuine Risk briefly owned the lead in stretch of the Belmont Stakes, but she was passed late by winner Temperance Hill and finished second.

Contracting a virus after the Belmont, Genuine Risk sat out three months before being defeated by Hall of Famer Bold ’n Determined by a nose in the Maskette. She finished her season on a high note by defeating the older Misty Gallore in the Ruffian Handicap. Genuine Risk earned the Eclipse Award for Champion 3-Year-Old Filly.

At 4, Genuine Risk won her debut in an April allowance race before finishing third in an allowance event on grass in May. She made her final start in August at Saratoga, winning an allowance by 8¼ engths. While training for the Woodward, Genuine Risk seemed off and was retired by the Firestones, finishing her career with a mark of 10-3-2 from 15 starts and earnings of $646,587.

Genuine Risk died at the age of 31 at the Firestone family’s Newstead Farm in Upperville, Virginia.