Gato del Sol Scores First Win in 2 Years

Gato del Sol, winner of the 1982 Kentucky Derby, scored his first victory in two years Saturday when he defeated Talakeno by two lengths in the $68,600 Caballero Handicap on the grass at Hollywood Park.

The 6-year-old son of Cougar was ninth in the field of 11 coming around the final turn, where jockey Laffit Pincay took him to the outside, and he responded to overhaul Talakeno midway down the stretch.

Craelius finished third after having raced close to the leaders for most of the 1 1/2 miles.

Gato del Sol was timed in 2:25 2/5 and paid $4, $3 and $2.40. Talakeno, ridden by Gary Stevens, returned $6.20 and $4.20. Craelius, with Bill Shoemaker aboard, paid $2.80.

Despite the 2-year drought, Gato del Sol went into the race with $1,298,507 in earnings, to which he added $41,600 for owners Arthur B. Hancock III of Paris, Ky., and Leone Peters of New York.