Gentlemen (ARG)
October 1, 1992 – c. 2011
Robin des Bois (USA) x Elegant Glance (USA), by Loose Cannon (USA)
Family 7-a
October 1, 1992 – c. 2011
Robin des Bois (USA) x Elegant Glance (USA), by Loose Cannon (USA)
Family 7-a
One of a wave of South American imports brought into California in the latter part of the 20th century, Gentlemen was among the best. A champion in his native Argentina, he ran well in North America for three years and ranked among the top American-raced horses of 1997. Unfortunately, he was not nearly so successful as a sire as he had been as a racehorse.
Race record
24 starts, 13 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds, US$3,608,558 (includes converted Argentine earnings)
1995:
1996:
1997:
1998:
Honors
Pellegrini Award, Argentine champion 3-year-old male (1995)
Assessments
Co-highweighted with the official divisional champion, Skip Away, at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American older males of 1997.
Earned a top lifetime Timeform rating of 136 pounds.
As an individual
A handsome, athletic chestnut horse, Gentlemen had a sweeping shoulder, strong hindquarters, and short cannons with good muscling through his forearms and gaskins. He was somewhat long-backed. He was rambunctious and did not respond well to discipline (he had a “mean streak” according to jockey Gary Stevens and would retaliate if corrected) but had both a high cruising speed and the ability to deliver multiple bursts of speed during a race.
As a stallion
According to records compiled by the Jockey Club, Gentlemen sired 119 winners (38.6%) and one stakes winner (0.3%) from 323 named foals of racing age.
Connections
Gentlemen was bred and owned by Haras de la Pomme. He was sent to the United States following his win in the Gran Premio Nacional. After the colt’s win in the 1996 Native Diver Handicap, Gentlemen was purchased privately by Andrea Stable and Randall D. Hubbard. Following the 1997 racing season, Hubbard assumed full ownership and was sole owner for the rest of Gentlemen's racing career. In the USA, Gentlemen was trained by Richard Mandella. He entered stud in 1999 in Kentucky at Walmac Farm. Following the 2004 breeding season, he moved to Applebite Farm in California. In late 2007, he was purchased by Elite Thoroughbreds and moved to Louisiana. His last foals were registered in 2012.
Pedigree notes
Sired by the stakes-winning Nureyev horse Robin des Bois, Gentlemen is inbred 3x4 to the breed-shaping sire Northern Dancer, the 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male. He is also inbred 4x4 to the important stamina influence Graustark.
Gentlemen is out of unraced Elegant Glance, whose sire, Grade 3-placed Loose Cannon, had an excellent pedigree (Nijinsky II x Java Moon, by Graustark x Golden Trail) but never lived up to it. The dam of Elegant Glance, Hidden Glance, is by Gentle Smoke, winner of the 1972 Fountain of Youth Stakes. A winning half sister to listed stakes winner Nordic King (by King of the North), Hidden Glance is also a half sister to Admiral’s Affair (by Admiral’s Voyage), dam of multiple stakes winner Vagabond Sergeant (by My Gallant).
Hidden Glance and her siblings were produced from Mesmerize (by Francis S.). A winning half sister to juvenile stakes winner Root Cause (by Exclusive Native), Mesmerize is out of the winning Sailor mare Any Port, whose stakes-winning half sister Pas de Nom is the dam of three-time American champion sire Danzig and the second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Lord of the Night. Another half sister to Any Port, Aromanite (by Gallant Romeo), is the dam of 1983 Suffolk Downs Sprint Handicap (USA-G3) winner All Sold Out (by Full Out).
Books and media
Video footage of Gentlemen’s win in the 1997 San Antonio Handicap can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCXFsxbNRTk.
Last updated: September 19, 2026
Race record
24 starts, 13 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds, US$3,608,558 (includes converted Argentine earnings)
1995:
- Won Gran Premio Dos Mil Guineas (ARG-G1, 1600mT, San Isidro)
- Won Gran Premio Polla de Potrillos (Argentine Two Thousand Guineas) (ARG-G1, 1600mD, Palermo)
- Won Gran Premio Nacional (Argentine Derby) (ARG-G1, 2500mD, Palermo)
1996:
- Won Citation Handicap (USA-G2, 9FT, Hollywood)
- Won Bay Meadows Handicap (USA-G3, 9FT, Bay Meadows)
- Won Native Diver Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Hollywood; new track record 1:45-1/5)
1997:
- Won Pimlico Special Handicap (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Hollywood)
- Won Pacific Classic Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Del Mar)
- Won San Antonio Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Santa Anita Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Santa Anita)
1998:
- Won San Antonio Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Pacific Classic Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Del Mar)
- 2nd Woodward Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Hollywood)
Honors
Pellegrini Award, Argentine champion 3-year-old male (1995)
Assessments
Co-highweighted with the official divisional champion, Skip Away, at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American older males of 1997.
Earned a top lifetime Timeform rating of 136 pounds.
As an individual
A handsome, athletic chestnut horse, Gentlemen had a sweeping shoulder, strong hindquarters, and short cannons with good muscling through his forearms and gaskins. He was somewhat long-backed. He was rambunctious and did not respond well to discipline (he had a “mean streak” according to jockey Gary Stevens and would retaliate if corrected) but had both a high cruising speed and the ability to deliver multiple bursts of speed during a race.
As a stallion
According to records compiled by the Jockey Club, Gentlemen sired 119 winners (38.6%) and one stakes winner (0.3%) from 323 named foals of racing age.
Connections
Gentlemen was bred and owned by Haras de la Pomme. He was sent to the United States following his win in the Gran Premio Nacional. After the colt’s win in the 1996 Native Diver Handicap, Gentlemen was purchased privately by Andrea Stable and Randall D. Hubbard. Following the 1997 racing season, Hubbard assumed full ownership and was sole owner for the rest of Gentlemen's racing career. In the USA, Gentlemen was trained by Richard Mandella. He entered stud in 1999 in Kentucky at Walmac Farm. Following the 2004 breeding season, he moved to Applebite Farm in California. In late 2007, he was purchased by Elite Thoroughbreds and moved to Louisiana. His last foals were registered in 2012.
Pedigree notes
Sired by the stakes-winning Nureyev horse Robin des Bois, Gentlemen is inbred 3x4 to the breed-shaping sire Northern Dancer, the 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male. He is also inbred 4x4 to the important stamina influence Graustark.
Gentlemen is out of unraced Elegant Glance, whose sire, Grade 3-placed Loose Cannon, had an excellent pedigree (Nijinsky II x Java Moon, by Graustark x Golden Trail) but never lived up to it. The dam of Elegant Glance, Hidden Glance, is by Gentle Smoke, winner of the 1972 Fountain of Youth Stakes. A winning half sister to listed stakes winner Nordic King (by King of the North), Hidden Glance is also a half sister to Admiral’s Affair (by Admiral’s Voyage), dam of multiple stakes winner Vagabond Sergeant (by My Gallant).
Hidden Glance and her siblings were produced from Mesmerize (by Francis S.). A winning half sister to juvenile stakes winner Root Cause (by Exclusive Native), Mesmerize is out of the winning Sailor mare Any Port, whose stakes-winning half sister Pas de Nom is the dam of three-time American champion sire Danzig and the second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Lord of the Night. Another half sister to Any Port, Aromanite (by Gallant Romeo), is the dam of 1983 Suffolk Downs Sprint Handicap (USA-G3) winner All Sold Out (by Full Out).
Books and media
Video footage of Gentlemen’s win in the 1997 San Antonio Handicap can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCXFsxbNRTk.
Last updated: September 19, 2026