Gentlemen Is Not About to Be Outdone

On the day when both made their first starts of the year, Gentlemen was not upstaged by Skip Away.

About a half-hour after Skip Away--the 1997 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner--toyed with his nine rivals in the $300,000 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park, Gentlemen dominated his four opponents in the $300,000 San Antonio Handicap on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Trailing at one point early in the Grade II prep for next month’s $1-million Santa Anita Handicap, Gentlemen--the 3-10 favorite--angled out for room at the top of the stretch, then burst away to become the first horse to repeat in the San Antonio since Gun Bow won in 1964 and ’65.

Geared down approaching the wire by jockey Gary Stevens, the 6-year-old had six lengths on Da Bull, the longest shot in the field at 15-1, at the finish and completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:47 3/5 over a track labeled good.

It was the 13th victory in 18 starts for Gentlemen, who is owned by Hollywood Park CEO R.D. Hubbard and three Argentine businessmen.

“I’m very pleased,” Hubbard said. “[Trainer Richard Mandella] basically said [Gentlemen] was as good or better than he’s ever been.

“I’m looking forward to the Santa Anita Handicap [on March 7] and if he comes out of that race well, we’d probably go to Dubai [for the $4-million Dubai World Cup on March 28].

“I thought Skip Away was impressive. I’m looking forward to him coming out to California. [Trainer Sonny Hine] says he’s coming out for the [Hollywood] Gold Cup [on June 28]. If Skip Away, Gentlemen and Silver Charm are all there for that race nobody would be happier than me.”

Santa Anita management would prefer to see Skip Away return to California sooner. Hine, who owns the horse with wife Carolyn, didn’t rule out the Big ‘Cap as a possibility after his gray’s 12th victory in 30 starts.

Mandella, who won the San Antonio for the third time in four years, was happy merely to have this one out of the way.

“It’s a great relief,” he said. “He ran a bad race at Woodbine [in the Woodbine Mile last Sept. 20 in his final race of the year] and we learned why afterward [an ulcerated palate].

“Whenever they’re off for a long time, you never know if they are going to come back the same. He was really full of himself today, really fresh. I think he is as good as he’s ever been. It’s hard to imagine one being any better.

“I guess [Skip Away] ran the same way today and [Hine] has the same feeling, so maybe someday, we’ll find out. I wish him the best.”

In the Donn, Skip Away tracked the pace early, took the lead after six furlongs, then went on to beat 97-1 shot Unruled by nearly three lengths in 1:50 for the 1 1/8 miles under Jerry Bailey. Behrens, the 7-2 second choice, was seventh.