RUHLMANN
1985, drkb/b h,
by Mr Leader—Indian Maiden by Chieftain
Trained by Robert Frankel and Charles Whittingham
Lifetime:Starts 22; Wins 9
History: An eight-times stakes winner, Ruhlmann defeated some of the best horses of his generation, including Easy Goer and the great Sunday Silence. He began his career in France, but soon returned to California where his promising 3-year-old campaign included wins in 1989's San Bernardino Handicap and the Native Diver Handicap. The colt's most stunning victory, however, may well have been 1990's $1 million Santa Anita Handicap with jockey Gary Stevens aboard. In the Big 'Cap, Ruhlmann beat the favorite, champion race mare Bayakoa, as well as Criminal Type (the eventual horse of the year), who would later become his turf rival. The two faced off for track supremacy five more times that year, with Type besting Ruhlmann 3-2. The duo was nearly reunited right here at Old Friends, but sadly, Criminal Type died before he could be returned from Japan.
His original owners, Jerry and Ann Moss donated Ruhlmann to Old Friends in 2005 under an endowment. It was a fitting retirement, as the near-black stallion was conceived at Hurstland Farm in Midway over 20 years ago. The Moss' good deed was not overlooked: Just two days after coming to visit their former champion, they won the 131 st running of the Kentucky Derby with their new champion, Giacomo.
