Bold Ego, who grew up among the plebians of the turf in such remote outposts as Albuquerque, Ruidoso and Sunland in New Mexico, is the leading money-winning colt in the Derby field. His 10 victories, also tops in the field, have earned him $382,676.

It wasn't until this year that Bold Ego crashed equine society. After two unsuccessful starts at Santa Anita and Oaklawn Park, the son of Bold Tactics- Coya's Ego put three big ones together, including the Arkansas Derby.

In the Arkansas Derby, Bold Ego turned back at least four challengers from the far turn to the finish. His final time for that mile and an-eighth was 1:50 2/5, not exactly superhorse time. But it was a fifth of a second faster than Temperence Hill's 1980 Arkansas Derby. Temperence Hill passed up the Derby and Preakness but won the Belmont Stakes and went on to be crowned 3- year-old champion of 1980.