Gentlemen (foaled 1992) was an Argentine Thoroughbred racehorse. He was the Champion Three-Year-Old Colt in Argentina and then raced successfully in the United States.
Background Gentlemen was a chestnut horse bred at the Haras de la Pomme in Argentina. He was sired by Robin des Bois, an American-bred, French-trained son of Nureyev.
Racing career Racing at age three in 1995, Gentlemen won the Gran Premio Dos Mil Guineas, Gran Premio Nacional (Argentine Derby), and Gran Premio Polla de Potrillos (Argentine 2000 Guineas). He also finished 4th in the Gran Premio Jockey Club.
Gentlemen was brought to race in the United States in 1996, under California trainer Richard Mandella. Although he was ineligible for the Breeders' Cup, Gentlemen met with considerable success.
Gentlemen's first start in United States was a dirt allowance race at Hollywood Park in which he finished last after leading down the backstretch. He won his next start, a turf allowance at Del Mar. Later that year, he won the Grade 3 Native Diver Handicap by nine lengths in track record time.
In 1997, he was arguably the best racehorse in North America. On May 10, he captured the Grade 1 Pimlico Special at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland conceding three pounds to Skip Away. In June he won the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup by four lengths from the Brazilian champion Siphon with the future Arlington Million winner Marlin a further five and a quarter lengths back in fourth. In August he won the Grade 1 Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar, beating Siphon by two and three quarter lengths. He was less successful as a six-year-old in 1998, producing his best performance when winning the San Antonio Handicap and finishing second to Wagon Limit in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup.
In 1998 he was entered into the Classic at the Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs with Richard Mandella as trainer, though Gentlemen eased and finished last. He was retired to stand at stud.
Racing statistics +Gentlemen's Career StatisticsDateDistanceSurfaceRaceGradeTrackOddsTimeFinishMarginJockey10 June 19951600 metersTurfPremio Don JuanMaidenHipódromo de San Isidro10.401:35.612(1 length)Jorge Valdivieso26 June 19961600 metersTurfPremio Prohibida OcaMaidenHipódromo de San Isidro1.701:35.0919 lengthsJorge Valdivieso5 August 19951600 metersTurfGran Premio Dos Mil GuineasG1Hipódromo de San Isidro8.001:32.361 neckJacinto Rafael Herrera9 September 19951600 metersDirtGran Premio Polla de PotrillosG1Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo7.901:34.4812 lengthsJacinto Rafael Herrera7 October 19952000 metersTurfGran Premio Jockey ClubG1Hipódromo de San Isidro1.801:58.614(5 lengths)Jacinto Rafael Herrera4 November 19952500 metersDirtGran Premio NacionalG1Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo6.102:36.1011 lengthsJacinto Rafael Herrera19 June 19968.5 furlongsDirtAllowanceAllowanceHollywood Park Racetrack1.901:41.956( 10 lengths)Corey Nakatani27 July 19968.5 furlongsTurfAllowanceAllowanceDel Mar Racetrack2.101:42.3611 lengthsCorey Nakatani28 September 19969 furlongsTurfBay Meadows HandicapG3Bay Meadows Racetrack1.20*1:45.9015 lengthsCorey Nakatani30 November 19969 furlongsTurfCitation HandicapG2Hollywood Park Racetrack2.00*1:45.5512 lengthsGary Stevens22 December 19969 furlongsDirtNative Diver HandicapG3Hollywood Park Racetrack1.401:45.35 (NTR)19 lengthsGary Stevens2 February 19979 furlongsDirtSan Antonio HandicapG2Santa Anita Park0.50*1:47.381 lengthsGary Stevens2 March 199710 furlongsDirtSanta Anita HandicapG1Santa Anita Park1.70*2:00.233(3 lengths)Gary Stevens10 May 19979.5 furlongsDirtPimlico Special HandicapG1Pimlico Race Course1.80*1:53.031 lengthsGary Stevens29 June 199710 furlongsDirtHollywood Gold Cup StakesG1Hollywood Park Racetrack1.601:59.2614 lengthsGary Stevens9 August 199710 furlongsDirtPacific Classic StakesG1Del Mar Racetrack0.50*2:00.5612 lengthsGary Stevens20 September 19978 furlongsTurfWoodbine Mile StakesListedWoodbine Racetrack0.45*1:36.205(2 lengths)Gary Stevens7 February 19989 furlongsDirtSan Antonio HandicapG2Santa Anita Park0.30*1:47.6016 lengthsGary Stevens7 March 199810 furlongsDirtSanta Anita HandicapG1Santa Anita Park0.05*2:02.264(7 lengths)Pat Day28 June 199810 furlongsDirtHollywood Gold Cup StakesG1Hollywood Park Racetrack1.702:00.163(2 lengths)Gary Stevens15 August 199810 furlongsDirtPacific Classic StakesG1Del Mar Racetrack1.20*2:00.292(4 lengths)Corey Nakatani19 September 19989 furlongsDirtWoodward StakesG1Belmont Park7.201:47.802(1 lengths)Corey Nakatani10 October 199810 furlongsDirtJockey Club Gold CupG1Belmont Park2.002:00.622(5 lengths)Corey Nakatani7 November 199810 furlongsDirtBreeders' Cup ClassicG1Churchill Downs8.802:02.16DNF -Corey Nakatani
Stud record In 1999, Gentlemen began stud duty at Walmac Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, where he met with modest success. He stood for a stud fee of $15,000 in 2002. In 2005, Gentlemen was relocated to Applebite Farms in California to stand stud for the 2006 season, at a stud fee of $5,000. In late 2007, he was purchased by Elite Stables, LLC and moved to Elite Thoroughbreds in Folsom, Louisiana. His 2008 stud fee was listed at a special introductory fee of $1500.
Death As of 2025, Gentlemen's death had not been officially reported, however unsubstantiated claims were made in 2020 of his 2011 or 2012 death at a farm in Louisiana.
Pedigree
Gentlemen is inbred 4S × 4D to Graustark, meaning Graustark appears in the fourth generation on both the sire and dam's side of the pedigree. Gentlemen is also inbred to Northern Dancer 3S × 4D.
References