Garrett Gomez had lost the Kentucky Derby mount on Lookin At Lucky.

Years earlier, he believed a disappointment like that might have sent him back toward drugs and alcohol. In this conversation with biographer Rodolfo Alvarado, Garrett reflects on learning to experience disappointment without destroying himself, his growing understanding of horses, and the extraordinary partnership with Blame that led to victory over Zenyatta in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic. Sometimes losing the horse you wanted simply makes room for the horse that was waiting.