Mortality, a phenomenon as reliable as a heavily favored competitor’s odds, is an indisputable aspect of existence.
It is an occurrence that touches all living beings, both human and animal.
Nevertheless, accepting this truth can be exceptionally challenging, particularly when it befalls someone prematurely, as it did for a distinguished two-year-old filly from the twentieth century.
Landaluce displayed unmatched prowess on the racetrack.
She secured victories in all five of her races with notable ease, achieving a cumulative lead of 46 ½ lengths. This included her inaugural graded stakes win, during which she triumphed by an impressive 21 lengths.
“Her exceptional speed and giftedness in motion were truly astonishing …” — Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas
Honored with the Eclipse Award as the foremost two-year-old filly of 1982, she holds the distinction of being the first champion trained by D. Wayne Lukas, who later became renowned as one of the sport’s most accomplished trainers, with 25 individual champions to his name.
Regrettably, this accolade was bestowed posthumously due to Landaluce’s tragic demise from a fatal virus, cutting short her promising career after only five remarkable races.
“In terms of outright brilliance within such a brief career, she was unparalleled,” remarked Lukas, who passed away on June 28, 2025.
Landaluce’s extraordinary talent was not entirely unexpected.
She was, after all, the offspring of the esteemed Triple Crown champion of 1977, Seattle Slew, who also proved to be a successful sire.
Born to the Bold Bidder mare Strip Poker, the dark bay or brown filly captured Lukas’ attention at the 1981 Keeneland July yearling sale. He subsequently persuaded Lloyd R. French and Barry Beal — previous owners of Lukas’ multiple-stakes winning filly Terlingua — to submit a winning bid of $650,000 for her.
The following year, upon her arrival at Lukas’ stable at Hollywood Park to commence her two-year-old campaign, she quickly demonstrated that she was worth every cent of her acquisition cost … and even more.
“As a trainer back then, you would start each day with the hope that a remarkable horse like Seattle Slew or Spectacular Bid would come into your care,” Lukas shared in a 2016 interview with America’s Best Racing. “When Landaluce arrived, we recognized that we had a truly exceptional filly.”
Lukas’ positive sentiments regarding Landaluce seemed to amplify with each passing day, culminating in her initial half-mile workout, which convinced Lukas that she possessed limitless potential.
“I had a stakes horse in New York and [jockey] Angel Cordero [Jr.] and I took a red-eye flight to California,” Lukas recounted. “We arrived around 6 a.m., and I informed him that we would be working a particularly special horse that morning named Landaluce, and he agreed to come and work her.
“I suggested delaying the workout until 8:30 or 9. Once Angel arrived, I emphasized her ability and cautioned against overexertion, as it was her first half-mile. I advised him to aim for a time of 48 or 49 [seconds] due to her exceptional talent.
“He worked her, and I followed on a saddle horse. After the workout, I asked Angel for his assessment. He responded, ‘She moves exceptionally well.’ I inquired about his estimated time, to which he replied, ‘Around 48 4/5 or 49.’ We then passed by the clocker’s stand, and I asked for the official time. They announced, ‘44 4/5.’ ”
In response, Lukas turned to the future Hall of Fame rider and quipped, “You were slightly off, Angel.”
Word of Landaluce’s remarkable speed during her early workouts quickly circulated along the Hollywood Park backstretch, and on July 3, 1982, when she made her debut, she was designated as the odds-on 4-5 favorite.
Backing a racehorse with such low odds in its first race could be considered a gamble, but Landaluce proved to be truly exceptional.
Under the guidance of regular jockey Laffit Pincay Jr., she broke swiftly in the six-furlong maiden race and never allowed her competitors a chance. Leading by three lengths after an initial half-mile in :44 3/5, she extended her lead in the stretch, crossing the finish line seven lengths ahead in a remarkable time of 1:08 1/5.
“She revealed her talent early on,” Lukas noted. “Her exceptional speed, giftedness in motion, and the manner in which she moved across the ground were truly astounding.”
A week later, Lukas entered Landaluce in the Grade 2 Hollywood Lassie Stakes, marking the emergence of a superstar.
What initially seemed to be a competitive race quickly transformed into an unmatched demonstration of dominance.
Trailing by a mere half-length through an opening quarter-mile in 21 3/5 seconds, the swift filly seized a 1 ½-length advantage at the quarter pole after a half-mile in a blistering 43 4/5 seconds.
The subsequent events became legendary in racing history. Upon entering the stretch, Landaluce distanced herself from her rivals with each fluid stride. By the eighth pole, she had established an insurmountable nine-length lead through five furlongs in 56 seconds.
Yet, that margin paled in comparison to an awe-inspiring final furlong that witnessed Landaluce surge ahead in a breathtaking display. She crossed the finish line an astonishing 21 lengths ahead of her overwhelmed competitors.
“The Lassie race, available on YouTube, is simply captivating,” Lukas expressed. “At the top of the stretch, four horses are closely grouped together. Several other stakes winners were present, but it appears as though they ceased running as she opened up a 21-length lead. The cameras remain focused on her until the rest of the field finally enters the frame.
“In my opinion, it was reminiscent of Secretariat’s Belmont. It stands out as one of those unforgettable races.”
Skepticism regarding Landaluce’s exceptional abilities was rare following the Lassie.
After a period of rest until Sept. 5, she participated in the Grade 2 Del Mar Debutante over a mile and once again dominated her opponents in the stretch. Leading by just 1 ½ lengths at the eighth pole, she effortlessly extended her lead in the final furlong to secure an 8 ½-length victory in a time of 1:35 3/5.
This was followed by a 10-length triumph in the Grade 3 Anoakia Stakes. On Oct. 23, she achieved Grade 1 status with a two-length victory as a 1-20 favorite in the Oak Leaf Stakes at Santa Anita, completing a mile and a sixteenth in 1:41 4/5.
The next target was the $518,850 Hollywood Starlet on Nov. 28, then the most lucrative purse for fillies in Thoroughbred history. However, Lukas recognized his remarkable two-year-old’s ability to compete against males and aimed for the Hollywood Futurity, another $500,000 stakes race, as her final event of 1982.
“We were confident in her ability to race against male horses,” Lukas explained. “We believed her potential was limitless, and she could compete against anyone.”
However, in the week leading up to the Starlet, Landaluce developed a fever of 103. Initially, Lukas and the veterinarians believed it was a minor ailment, but it was later diagnosed as a strain of Colitis-X, the same virus that had nearly claimed the life of her sire, Seattle Slew, a few years earlier. Landaluce’s condition deteriorated daily, and the attending doctors were unable to provide effective treatment.
“We remained hopeful that we could reverse the situation, but unfortunately, we were unable to do so,” Lukas lamented. “The virus attacked all of her vital organs, leaving us with no chance of saving her.”
Finally, in the early morning hours of Nov. 28 — the day the Starlet was scheduled to take place — Lukas noticed Landaluce’s increasing instability and entered her stall to offer comfort and support.
“I had gone into the stall, sensing that her condition had worsened. I could see her weakening as she began to stagger and collapsed against the wall,” Lukas recounted.
As Landaluce fell to the ground, she inadvertently knocked over Lukas, and her head came to rest in his lap. While attempting to help her up, Landaluce passed away with her head in Lukas’ arms.
“Losing her so suddenly was incredibly difficult,” Lukas expressed. “It took me a considerable amount of time to recover, and I vowed never to allow myself to become so emotionally invested in too many horses again. It was a challenging experience, especially early in my career, and I did not cope with it well.”
Lukas was not alone in his grief. He recalled having to arrange psychological support for one of Landaluce’s grooms, who was discovered days later sobbing in the horse’s stall.
The loss of Landaluce reverberated throughout the racing industry. The sport not only mourned the passing of a dynamic champion but also recognized the potential loss of a valuable broodmare due to her exceptional bloodlines.
Despite having raced only five times, she had already captured the hearts of countless racing enthusiasts who grieved her untimely death. Lukas remembered seeing reports of Landaluce’s passing on national news broadcasts, a phenomenon he noted was “unprecedented for horse racing at that time.”
Landaluce was laid to rest at Hollywood Park. Following the track’s closure in 2013, her remains were relocated to her final resting place at Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Ky., the very farm where she was born, and where her legend continues to endure.
“I have trained numerous champions, and Landaluce ranks among the very best,” Lukas affirmed. “She was truly one of a kind.”
NOTE: This article was initially published in 2016 and has since been updated. Hall of Famer Lukas passed away on June 28, 2025.
Key Facts about Landaluce
- The highest amount she paid to triumph in her five victories was $2.70 during her inaugural race.
- She was named in honor of Francisco Landaluce, a hunting guide whom French and Beal encountered during a visit to a Spanish farm.
