Rags to riches Kentucky Derby winners: Canonero II

Canonero II won the 1971 Kentucky Derby at incredible odds. Juan Arias-trained Canonero won it despite having a crooked leg. He was thrown into a betting pool with no-hopers and the odds were 8/1. He made his way from Caracas to the Kentucky derby.

Canonero II won the 1971 Kentucky Derby. He was sold for $1,200 at the Keeneland sales in Lexington, Kentucky. The horse was shipped to his native Venezuela and trained by Juan Arias. It took three flights to get Canonero to the US from Venezuela. Canonero II was sent to California for the Del Mar Futurity and finished fifth. His trainer didn't speak English. On the way to Churchill Downs, the horse arrived underweight. After a short workout, Canoneri II finished fourth. The race was held on May 1, 1971. There were 123,284 people.

Canonero II won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. He was sold for $1.5m to King Ranch owner Robert Kleberg. A record crowd of 82,694, swelled by an estimated 25,000 Venezuelans, watched the Belmont Stake.

Canonero II won the 1972 Kentucky Derby at 5/1 against the odds-on Riva Ridge. He was a horse with a reputation of being unpredictable. He has won several other races. His book is called "The Rags to Riches Story of the Kentucky derby's Most Improbable Winner".