K-J founder Jess Jackson becomes majority owner of the Kentucky Derby favorite

Like many of the mega-rich involved in horse racing at the highest level, Jess Jackson was shopping for a champion in early February, 91 days before the Kentucky Derby.

To facilitate his search, Jackson, founder of Santa Rosa's Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates, had an employee assigned to study DVDs of every horse race at every meaningful track in America.

He hoped to one day receive word of an unknown, can't-miss Thoroughbred capable of winning the world's most prestigious horse race.

On Feb. 3, Jackson's dream was realized.

A colt, Curlin, had just won his debut race at Gulfstream Park in Florida by 12 3/4 lengths, about 100 feet, horse racing's equivalent of a first-round knockout.

Less than 24 hours later, Jackson, whose net worth last year was estimated by Forbes at $1.8 billion, was Curlin's majority owner.

And now three months later, on the eve of the 133rd running of the Kentucky Derby, Jackson, according to the oddsmakers, may have bought his champion.

The inexperienced Curlin is the Derby's 7-2 morning-line favorite on the strength of the stunning start to his career. The 3-year-old has won his first three races, worth $802,800, by a combined 28 1/2 lengths, rewarding the reported $3.5 million price he commanded after his Gulfstream win.

"It's sort of like a dream," Jackson said Thursday night from Stonestreet Farms, near Lexington, Ky. "It's unreal. I didn't expect to be here."

The only other Sonoma County-owned Kentucky Derby entry was Cavonnier. Owned by Barbara and Bob Walter of Sebastopol, he finished second by a nose to Grindstone in the 1996 Run for the Roses.

Cavonnier was then favored in the Preakness, but finished nearly nine lengths behind winner Louis Quatorze.

Eleven years later, Jackson could be beginning a similar ride. A 77-year-old resident of Geyserville, Jackson is a longtime follower of horse racing who immersed himself in the sport in 2003. He has invested more than $200 million, accounting for about 200 horses, two Thoroughbred farms in Ocala, Fla., and another that recently closed escrow in Lexington.

His horses have included 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper and the mother of Afleet Alex, the 2005 Preakness and Belmont Stakes winner. In addition, Tiz Wonderful, a 3-year-old who is unbeaten in three starts, qualified for the derby but can't compete because of a leg injury suffered in mid-January.

Curlin was bought for $57,000 as a yearling in fall 2005 by Midnight Cry Stable.

But his price went up exponentially after his win at Gulfstream.

Shortly after the race, Jackson was contacted by John Moynihan, a Kentucky-based bloodhorse agent who counts Jackson as his principal client.

Moynihan was at Gulfstream, saw Curlin clobber the field and immediately called Jackson.

Said Jackson: "I checked the DVD to see the race, said 'Wow' and I told John to go get him."

By about 3 a.m. the next day, a partnership was formed between Jackson, San Francisco-based investment banker George Bolton, software entrepreneur Satish Sanan and Midnight Cry Stable, which retained a 20 percent interest in Curlin.

Jackson owns 31 percent, Sanan 29 percent and Bolton 20 percent.

"He's an extraordinary horse," Jackson. "We saw his potential early on."

It's also been an extraordinary week for Jackson, who has been besieged with interview requests, will celebrate his wedding anniversary today and, this month, is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Kendall-Jackson's founding.

Jackson held a party for about 120 friends and family at Stonestreet Farms on Thursday night.

A victory by Curlin would give Jackson yet another reason to celebrate.

It would also evoke memories of the 2002 derby, won by War Emblem, who had been bought less than a month before the race by Saudi Prince Ahmed bin Salman.

Jackson, of course, hopes history repeats itself.

You can contact Staff Writer Eric Branch at 521-5268 or eric.branch@pressdemocrat.com.