Andreani Will Buy Klein Land : Horse racing: Sale of Del Rayo Racing Stables will force Wayne Lukas to move his horses quickly.

Jean-Laurent Andreani, a publicity-shy Frenchman who has quickly become involved in American racing, is buying the 150-acre ranch of the late Gene Klein for a price estimated at $27 million.

The sale of the Del Rayo Racing Stables near Del Mar is so imminent that trainer Wayne Lukas reportedly will have to move dozens of his horses quickly to another training facility. Lukas, who with Klein ran roughshod through racing’s record book in the 1980s, winning $27.5 million in purses, leased about 40 acres of Del Rayo from Klein, who was 69 when he suffered a fatal heart attack last March, less than a year after he announced his departure from racing.

Andreani, who is said to be in his mid-40s, is a land developer with homes in France, Phoenix and near Del Mar. Andreani has been involved in American racing for only a few years, with no major victories, but with his trainer, California-based Christian Doumen, he has been a major buyer of unraced 2-year-olds this year in California, Florida and elsewhere.

Recently, Andreani bought a large block of stock in Hollywood Park, which resulted in Doumen obtaining more stall space for their horses at the Inglewood track.

Andreani buys and races his horses in the name of Lonimar Stables. When Andreani recently bought back a Mr. Prospector-Melair 2-year-colt for $710,000 after bidding stopped at $700,000, he declined interviews.

Klein’s heirs put the former San Diego Charger owner’s ranch up for sale not long after he died. Last year, Klein reportedly turned down an offer of $30 million for the property from Jack Kent Cooke, owner of the Washington Redskins and an owner and breeder of horses.

Lukas could not be reached for comment Wednesday night regarding the placement of his horses.

Besides the training facilities, there is room at Del Rayo for residential and commercial development. Andreani could not be reached for comment, but he reportedly has plans to build a European turf course on the site.

“Jean-Laurent is going to be a major player in this country,” said Fred Sahadi, whose Cardiff Stud has consigned horses on behalf of Andreani at California auctions.

Sahadi said that Andreani is inviting about 500 people to a party at his home near Del Mar, in conjunction with the opening of the racing season there on July 25.

Last November, Klein held a dispersal sale of his stock at Keeneland and 114 horses brought almost $30 million.