There's a certain feeling of deja vu around Barn 38 on the backstretch of Santa Anita Park. If Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas and owner Tom VanMeter II have the funny feeling they've been here before, they're right.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Strong demand for young mares, especially those from the highly successful racing and breeding program of Bob and Beverly Lewis and from the dissolution of the breeding partnership of Stone Farm and Stonerside Stable, boosted Tuesday's second session of Keeneland's November breeding stock sale.
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
Be Gentle, a multiple grade II winner, has been retired from racing because of a fracture to her right front ankle sustained while winning the Nov. 29 Golden Rod Stakes (gr. II) at Churchill Downs.
Thursday, January 22, 2004
Be Gentle lost all chance right out of the gate in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I). She won the $230,000 Golden Rod (gr. II) Saturday at Churchill Downs by getting out of the gate first and leading all the way. It just goes to show what racing luck can mean.
Saturday, November 29, 2003
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who has already saddled more winners of the $200,000-added Golden Rod Stakes (gr. II) than anyone at Churchill Downs, sends out the imposing duo of Be Gentle and Stellar Jayne in Saturday's 60th renewal of the race for 2-year-old fillies.
Friday, November 28, 2003
Thomas Van Meter's Be Gentle arrived at Churchill Downs early Tuesday afternoon and is expected to join the field for Saturday's 60th running of the Golden Rod Stakes (gr. II), a 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-old fillies.
Tuesday, November 25, 2003
Richard, Elaine and Bert Klein's Hot Mail breezed over a "good" track at Churchill Downs on Monday and trainer Steve Flint said the homebred daughter of Souvenir Copy was a strong candidate to run in Saturday's 60th running of the 1 1/16-mile, $200,000 Golden Rod Stakes (gr. II).
Monday, November 24, 2003
Tom VanMeter II hopes he has the bases covered in Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I). A principal in Eaton Sales along with Reiley McDonald, VanMeter has sold many "home run" runners, but he has two of his own on deck for the $1-million race for 2-year-old fillies: Be Gentle and Victory U.S.A.
Friday, October 24, 2003
This Saturday marks the 20th anniversary of the Breeders' Cup, and only one trainer has saddled horses in each rendition of racing's biggest day. D. Wayne Lukas, in addition to his vast success in Triple Crown events, is by far the winningest Breeders' Cup conditioner.
Thursday, October 23, 2003
On the day in which pre-entries were taken for the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, the horses that will compete in the Oct. 25 races continued their preparations at host site Santa Anita Park and at across town at Hollywood Park.
Tuesday, October 14, 2003
Robert and Beverly Lewis' multiple stakes-placed Renaissance Lady, who was eased in the Sept. 28 Oak Leaf Stakes (gr. II) in her last start, worked five furlongs in :59 4/5 over Santa Anita's fast main track Saturday morning in preparation for what will likely be her next start in the Oct. 25 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I).
Saturday, October 11, 2003
Thomas Van Meter II's Be Gentle took the early lead under Cornelio Velasquez and never looked back, romping to a decisive 5 1/2-length victory Friday in the $400,000 Darley Alcibiades (gr. II) at Keeneland Racecourse.
Friday, October 03, 2003
Tom VanMeter II's Be Gentle, runner up to the undefeated Ashado last time out in the Spinaway Stakes (gr. I), looms large against six rivals in the $400,000 Darley Alcibiades Stakes (gr. II) Friday at Keeneland.
Wednesday, October 01, 2003
The Darley Alcibiades Stakes (gr. II) on Keeneland's opening day card Oct. 3 is likely to have a field of seven 2-year-old fillies according to track officials. The 1 1/16-miles, two-turn race has proven to be a valuable prep for the World Thoroughbred Championships.
Tuesday, September 30, 2003
Ashado pulled away late from Be Gentle down the stretch to win the $200,000 Spinaway Stakes (gr. I) on Friday afternoon at Saratoga by 1 1/2 lengths. The seven-furlong Spinaway, the first grade I stakes in North America for 2-year-old fillies, was run in 1:24.08.
Friday, August 29, 2003
Ashado pulled away late from Be Gentle down the stretch to win the $200,000 Spinaway Stakes (gr. I) on Friday afternoon at Saratoga by 1 1/2 lengths. The seven-furlong Spinaway, the first grade I stakes in North America for 2-year-old fillies, was run in 1:24.08.
Friday, August 29, 2003
Leading New York jockey John Velazquez can get his Saratoga season off to a strong start astride Hermione's Magic in Wednesday's opening day feature, the $150,000 Schuylerville (gr. III) for 2-year-old fillies.
Sunday, July 20, 2003
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas won the $110,900 Debutante Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs for the record fifth time when his trainees Be Gentle and Renaissance Lady ran 1-2 in the 103rd renewal of the race July 4.
Friday, July 04, 2003
The Debutante Stakes (gr. III) has been run at Churchill Downs for more than a century. A win in Friday's 103rd renewal by D. Wayne Lukas would put the Hall of Fame trainer in very exclusive territory. Lukas will be shooting that day for an unprecedented fifth victory in the race.
Wednesday, July 02, 2003
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas will saddle three fillies in Friday's Debutante (gr. III) at Churchill Downs.
Tuesday, July 01, 2003
Baker, Cornstein and Mack's Proud Citizen, a disappointing eighth in the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I), turned in a sparkling five-furlong breeze Sunday in his first major training move since that race.
Sunday, June 22, 2003
