Everyone loves an underdog story, and The Gentleman Pirate and Kelsey Briggs certainly proved that it doesn’t necessarily cost a lot of money to win big.

“I got him off the track about 21⁄2 years ago up in Ohio,” said Briggs. “I paid $600. It’s turned out to be quite a steal!

He was sort of a big gangly young horse when I took him home, but he’s really grown into himself quite nicely. He has tremendous heart, and he’s really made me love the sport again.”