Making A List

The Kentucky Derby, which will be run at Churchill Downs for the 117th time this Saturday, has had its share of surprises. SI's William F. Reed considers these the 10 biggest Upsets for the Roses.

1. Dark Star ($51.80) in 1953. It was the only loss in 22 starts for Native Dancer, who went off as the 7-10 favorite.

2. Donerail ($184.90) in 1913. By beating Ten Point, the 6-5 favorite, Donerail rewarded his backers with what is still the largest Derby payoff.

3. Zev ($40.40) in 1923. Only five horses in the 21-horse field went off at higher odds. That's because Zev had finished next to last in the Preakness, then run a week before the Derby.

4. Canonero II ($19.40) in 1971. Shipped from Venezuela on a plane carrying farm animals, he paid so little because he had been placed in the pari-mutuel "field."

5. Bold Venture ($43) in 1936. Brevity, the 4-5 favorite, was knocked down, and Granville, who may have been the best horse in the race, unseated his rider at the start.

6. Proud Clarion ($62.20) in 1967. The best horse was Damascus, who finished an inexplicable third. Proud Clarion won only six of 25 career starts.

7. Gallahadion ($72.40) in 1940. Bimelech, the runner-up and 2-5 favorite, was running in his third race in nine days.

8. Chateaugay ($20.80) in 1963. How do you figure him beating two unbeaten horses, Candy Spots and No Robbery?

9. Bold Forbes ($8) in 1976. Honest Pleasure went off at 2-5, but he couldn't catch Bold Forbes, a sprinter expertly trained by the late Laz Barrera.