On This Day...

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Charismatic, a former claimer, won the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) the last time it was held May 1.

Two of Charismatic's three earlier wins came for a $62,500 claiming tag. The other win, in the Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland two weeks before the 1999 Derby, earned him a shot in the big race.

Trained by D. Wayne Lukas, Charismatic lit up the Churchill Downs' board with a $64.60 payoff. He next won the Preakness (gr. I) at 8-1, then finished third as the 8-5 favorite behind winner Lemon Drop Kid in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I).

The Derby was held eight other times on May 1, and the winners were Count Fleet (in 1943), Citation (1948), Determine (1954), Lucky Debonair (1965), Canonero II (1971), Bold Forbes (1976), Gato Del Sol (1982), and Sea Hero (1993).

This installment concludes the On This Day... series. We hope you enjoyed it. Good luck in picking today's Derby winner.

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