Landaluce (USA)
April 11, 1980 – November 28, 1982
Seattle Slew (USA) x Strip Poker (USA), by Bold Bidder (USA)
Family 3-j
April 11, 1980 – November 28, 1982
Seattle Slew (USA) x Strip Poker (USA), by Bold Bidder (USA)
Family 3-j
A member of Seattle Slew’s first crop, Landaluce was his first champion. She inherited much of his brilliance, but exactly how good she was will never be known. She was stricken with severe illness during the last week of November 1982, and although she was provided the best of veterinary care, she died of a massive bacterial infection. Her loss was a sad one for her breed and not just for her racing ability, as the produce record of her full sister Royal Strait Flush suggests that she could have been an excellent broodmare.
Race record
5 starts, 5 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds, US$372,365
1982:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old filly (1982)
Assessments
Co-highweighted with Princess Rooney among juvenile fillies at 121 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American 2-year-olds of 1982, 4 pounds above the next-best filly, Share the Fantasy.
As an individual
A well-made dark bay or brown filly with a deep girth, good bone, and nearly flawless conformation, Landaluce was an exceptionally fluent mover.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Landaluce was bred by Spendthrift Farm and Francis Kerman. A US$650,000 purchase at the 1981 Keeneland July yearling sale, she was owned by Lloyd R. French and Barry Beal. She was trained by D. Wayne Lukas and was ridden in all her races by Laffit Pincay Jr. She died November 28, 1982; postmortem testing revealed that she had died of a systemic E. coli infection. She was buried at Hollywood Park. In 2014, it was reported that Landaluce's remains were to be moved to her birthplace, Spendthrift Farm, following the closure of Hollywood Park, but apparently this was never done and the exact location of the filly's remains is now unknown.
Pedigree notes
Landaluce is inbred 4x3 to 1957 American Horse of the Year and eight-time American champion sire Bold Ruler. She is also inbred 5x4x5 to Bold Ruler’s sire Nasrullah, himself a five-time American champion sire, and 5x5 to two-time American champion sire and eight-time American champion broodmare sire Princequillo. She is a full sister to Royal Strait Flush, dam of two-time Rare Perfume Handicap (USA-G2) winner Jade Flush (by Jade Hunter), French listed stakes winner Tenga (by Mr. Prospector), and restricted stakes winner Royal Danzig (by Danzig); second dam of 2001 Secretariat Stakes (USA-G1) winner Startac and Irish Group 3 winner Tarry Flynn; and third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Harmonious, two-time Mexican champion Go Vivian Go, and Grade 2 winner Call Paul. Landaluce is also a half sister to 1977 Edgemere Handicap (USA-G3) winner Clout (by Indian Chief II).
Strip Poker, the dam of Landaluce, failed to win in two tries but is a half sister to 1964 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and Gran Premio di Milano winner Prince Royal II (by Ribot) and to Sensibility (by Hail to Reason), dam of Irish Group 3 winner Beyond the Lake (by Kings Lake) and multiple listed stakes winner Lake Champlain (by Kings Lake); second dam of 1987 American champion turf male Theatrical; and third dam of American champion turf male Paradise Creek and Grade 1 winners Forbidden Apple and Wild Event. Strip Poker is also a half sister to Pang (by Prince Chevalier), second dam of 1979 Clásico Jose Antonio Paez-Two Thousand Guineas (VEN-G1) winner Begich; to Spa II (by Saint Crespin III), second dam of French Group 2 winner Patricia; and to Panna II (by Jaddo), dam of Grade 1-placed stakes winner Sir Sir (by Sir Ivor).
Strip Poker and her siblings are out of Pange, a winning daughter of 1951 Middle Park Stakes winner King’s Bench (by Court Martial) and York Gala (by 1937 Coronation Cup winner His Grace, a full brother to Blenheim II). A half sister to two-time Cambridgeshire Stakes Handicap winner Sterope (by Mid-day Sun) and the stakes-winning gelding White Heather (by Pearl Diver), Pange is also a half sister to the stakes-winning mare Wyresdale (by Chanteur II), dam of 1970 Queen’s Vase winner Yellow River (by Elf-Arrow) and stakes winners Knight of the Dales (by Combat) and Starry Halo (by Aureole) and second dam of Irish Group 3 winner Mary Mitsu (by Tarboosh). In addition, Pange is a half sister to Sugarstick (by Zucchero), second dam of 1978 Joe Coral Eclipse Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Gunner B; to Gala Night (by Shahpour), dam of English stakes winners Gay Casino (by Trouville) and Sportaville (by Trouville); and to Yorkshire Rose (by Souverain), dam of 1962 Craven Stakes winner Sugar Daddy (by Zucchero).
Books and media
Fun facts
Last updated: December 15, 2022
Race record
5 starts, 5 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds, US$372,365
1982:
- Won Oak Leaf Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Del Mar Debutante Stakes (USA-G2, 8FD, Del Mar)
- Won Hollywood Lassie Stakes (USA-G2, 6FD, Hollywood)
- Won Anoakia Stakes (USA-G3, 7FD, Santa Anita)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old filly (1982)
Assessments
Co-highweighted with Princess Rooney among juvenile fillies at 121 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American 2-year-olds of 1982, 4 pounds above the next-best filly, Share the Fantasy.
As an individual
A well-made dark bay or brown filly with a deep girth, good bone, and nearly flawless conformation, Landaluce was an exceptionally fluent mover.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Landaluce was bred by Spendthrift Farm and Francis Kerman. A US$650,000 purchase at the 1981 Keeneland July yearling sale, she was owned by Lloyd R. French and Barry Beal. She was trained by D. Wayne Lukas and was ridden in all her races by Laffit Pincay Jr. She died November 28, 1982; postmortem testing revealed that she had died of a systemic E. coli infection. She was buried at Hollywood Park. In 2014, it was reported that Landaluce's remains were to be moved to her birthplace, Spendthrift Farm, following the closure of Hollywood Park, but apparently this was never done and the exact location of the filly's remains is now unknown.
Pedigree notes
Landaluce is inbred 4x3 to 1957 American Horse of the Year and eight-time American champion sire Bold Ruler. She is also inbred 5x4x5 to Bold Ruler’s sire Nasrullah, himself a five-time American champion sire, and 5x5 to two-time American champion sire and eight-time American champion broodmare sire Princequillo. She is a full sister to Royal Strait Flush, dam of two-time Rare Perfume Handicap (USA-G2) winner Jade Flush (by Jade Hunter), French listed stakes winner Tenga (by Mr. Prospector), and restricted stakes winner Royal Danzig (by Danzig); second dam of 2001 Secretariat Stakes (USA-G1) winner Startac and Irish Group 3 winner Tarry Flynn; and third dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Harmonious, two-time Mexican champion Go Vivian Go, and Grade 2 winner Call Paul. Landaluce is also a half sister to 1977 Edgemere Handicap (USA-G3) winner Clout (by Indian Chief II).
Strip Poker, the dam of Landaluce, failed to win in two tries but is a half sister to 1964 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and Gran Premio di Milano winner Prince Royal II (by Ribot) and to Sensibility (by Hail to Reason), dam of Irish Group 3 winner Beyond the Lake (by Kings Lake) and multiple listed stakes winner Lake Champlain (by Kings Lake); second dam of 1987 American champion turf male Theatrical; and third dam of American champion turf male Paradise Creek and Grade 1 winners Forbidden Apple and Wild Event. Strip Poker is also a half sister to Pang (by Prince Chevalier), second dam of 1979 Clásico Jose Antonio Paez-Two Thousand Guineas (VEN-G1) winner Begich; to Spa II (by Saint Crespin III), second dam of French Group 2 winner Patricia; and to Panna II (by Jaddo), dam of Grade 1-placed stakes winner Sir Sir (by Sir Ivor).
Strip Poker and her siblings are out of Pange, a winning daughter of 1951 Middle Park Stakes winner King’s Bench (by Court Martial) and York Gala (by 1937 Coronation Cup winner His Grace, a full brother to Blenheim II). A half sister to two-time Cambridgeshire Stakes Handicap winner Sterope (by Mid-day Sun) and the stakes-winning gelding White Heather (by Pearl Diver), Pange is also a half sister to the stakes-winning mare Wyresdale (by Chanteur II), dam of 1970 Queen’s Vase winner Yellow River (by Elf-Arrow) and stakes winners Knight of the Dales (by Combat) and Starry Halo (by Aureole) and second dam of Irish Group 3 winner Mary Mitsu (by Tarboosh). In addition, Pange is a half sister to Sugarstick (by Zucchero), second dam of 1978 Joe Coral Eclipse Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Gunner B; to Gala Night (by Shahpour), dam of English stakes winners Gay Casino (by Trouville) and Sportaville (by Trouville); and to Yorkshire Rose (by Souverain), dam of 1962 Craven Stakes winner Sugar Daddy (by Zucchero).
Books and media
- Landaluce’s stunning win in the Hollywood Lassie Stakes can be accessed within Bob Ehalt’s article “Landaluce: Unforgettable Brilliance, Unimaginable Heartbreak,” posted August 31, 2014 at America’s Best Racing (https://www.americasbestracing.net/the-sport/2016-landaluce-unforgettable-brilliance-unimaginable-heartbreak).
- Landaluce: The Story of Seattle Slew's First Champion was written by Mary Perdue and was released by the University Press of Kentucky in 2022.
Fun facts
- Landaluce was named for Francisco Landaluce, a hunting guide French and Beal met while in Spain.
- Landaluce won her stakes debut, the Hollywood Lassie Stakes, by 21 lengths. On top by nine lengths after 5 furlongs in :56, she stretched her lead by another 12 lengths in the final furlong, stopping the clock in 1:08. Her time in that race is believed to be the fastest ever for a 2-year-old filly for six furlongs around one turn.
- According to Daily Racing Form writer Joe Hirsch, Landaluce’s reputation was so widespread that European racing fans asked about the “Wonder Filly of the West” when visiting the United States that fall.
- Landaluce’s total margin of victory in her five races was 46½ lengths, giving her an average margin of victory of over 9¼ lengths.
- Landaluce was the first champion of the 26 trained by D. Wayne Lukas. She died with her head in Lukas’ lap, and Lukas admitted to feeling traumatized by the loss for many years afterward. He was not the only one; a few days after her death, he found one of the filly’s grooms sobbing in her stall and had to arrange for mental health assistance for the man.
- Landaluce’s death was announced in the New York Times and other major media outlets.
- The Hollywood Lassie Stakes was renamed in Landaluce’s honor. A graded stakes event for juvenile fillies, the race is now contested at Santa Anita.
- Grade 1-winning owner Ray Struder named his racing operation Landaluce Educe (“Landaluce Remembered” in Latin) Stables in honor of the champion filly, who won him as a fan while he was a college student at San Diego State University.
Last updated: December 15, 2022