BY BROCK SHERIDAN
1981—After breaking his maiden at Belmont Park in his second career start, Florida-bred Conquistador Cielo went into the $33,900 Saratoga Special (Grade 2) to make his stakes debut.
Trained by Woody Stephens for owner Henryk deKwiatkowski, Conquistador Cielo would that day be ridden to victory by Eddie Maple in the six-furlong test, winning by a half-length ahead of Hershelwalker in second with Florida-bred Timely Writer third. The time for the six furlongs was 1:10 3/5.
Conquistador Cielo paid $18.60 to win.
Conquistador Cielo would make his next start a week later in the Grade 2 Sanford, but finished fourth after a trouble trip and complete his 2-year-old year with two wins in four starts.
Conquistador Cielo made his mark as a 3-year-old, winning the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap on May 31 and the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes six days later on June 5. He would be named the champion 3-year-old colt and Horse of the Year in 1982.
By Mr. Prospector out of K D Princess, by Bold Commander, Conquistador Cielo was bred in Florida by Lewis E. Iandoli. He retired with nine wins in 13 starts and was syndicated for a then record $36.4 million according to a 2002 report in Blood-Horse magazine. He stood his entire career at Claiborne Farm near Paris, Ky., and is buried there next to Florida-bred Unbridled.
