In 1988, the Breeders’ Cup was held for the first time ever at Churchill Downs Racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky. Veteran trainer D. Wayne Lukas sent out a team of five two-year-olds in the Juvenile Fillies race and finished one-two-three, led by Eugene Klein’s “Open Mind” scoring a one-and-three-quarters-lengths win under jockey Angel Cordero and sealing an Eclipse Award campaign. Open Mind was making her fifth career start in the Breeders’ Cup and first around two turns after losing a nose decision to fellow Eugene V. Klein-owned, Lukas-trained stablemate “Some Romance” in the Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park. Open Mind was voted Eclipse champion that season and again as a 3-year-old in 1989 when her victories would include the Kentucky Oaks, Acorn, Mother Goose and the Alabama Stakes.
This lot features the beautiful, majestic trophy that Open Mind earned that day. Standing 8.5” wide by 13” tall, the trophy includes a large green marble base that stretches four inches high and eight inches wide. A sculptured, nine-inch tall prancing horse made of bronze is featured on top and is called an ecorche, which means it illustrates the muscles of the horse in detail. Both sides of the marble base features engraved gold plaques. The first plaque reads: “EUGENE V. KLEIN’S OPEN MIND, Deputy Minister - Stage Luck by Stage Door Johnny - WINNER - FIFTH RUNNING, BREEDERS CUP JUVENILE FILLIES, CHURCHILL DOWNS, November 5, 1988.” The second plaque, which appears on the opposite side, reads: “OPEN MIND Chestnut Filly - 1985 Bred By: Due Process Stables, Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas, Jockey: Angel Cordero Jr.” The trophy weighs a hefty 19 pounds.
Includes Letter of Provenance from the San Diego Hall of Champions.