Updated October 13, 1998
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6 y.o. Ch. H (Robin Des Bois-Elegant Glance by Loose Cannon) Arg
Gentlemen prances in the Del Mar paddock just before the 1998 Pacific Classic. |
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The handsome chestnut, who once was thought to be better than Cigar, has had a year of ups and downs. Although Gentlemen has not found the winner's circle as often as he did last year, he has been in some of the most dramatic races this year. He dueled head-to-head with Skip Away in the Hollywood Gold Cup, giving way in the stretch to the big gray after the two raced three-quarters of a mile in 1:09. The Pacific Classic and Woodward were also important races for Gentlemen, although he finished second to Free House and second to Skip Away respectively. Richard Mandella (trainer of Gentlemen) believed that his South American champion still had the ability to beat Skip Away by making some changes in Gentlemen's equipment to sharpen his focus. Adding blinkers to a seasoned professional like Gentlemen was an interesting experiment that most people thought would have negative consequences. Gentlemen, however, began to train like his 1997 form as soon as the blinkers were added. The Jockey Club Gold Cup was considered by most to be a match race between Gentlemen and Skip Away again, and for the first mile, racing fans got what they had expected. Gentlemen on the inside, Skip Away on the outside--pushing each other to the limit for the third time this year. But, on the turn for home, there was disbelief as Gentlemen began edging away from Skip Away with each stride, snapping the big gray's 9 race winning streak. Soon Gentlemen was six lengths ahead of Skip Away and appeared to be headed home a winner... but then along came a horse named Wagon Limit. Wagon Limit had seen his fair share of the back side of Skip Away earlier in the year, but this race was his for the taking after Gentlemen and Skip Away battled each other into defeat. Wagon Limit thundered down the stretch and won by six lengths, with Gentlemen another six lengths in front of Skip Away. So, the experiment worked. Gentlemen is back to his old form. Now we wait to see if the chestnut from the West and the gray from the East will meet one final time in the Breeders' Cup Classic (Nov. 7) before both retire to stud duty. It should be another GREAT showdown. |
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