Gentle Ruler

Gentle Ruler needed 10 starts to earn her first career win, breaking through in an off-the-turf race at Gulfstream Park on March 28, 2019, in her first try on the main track. She went back to the grass for her next start and this time won by a length at Keeneland in April.

Gentle Ruler made her stakes debut in the Keertana Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 25 and won by three-quarters of a length to improve to 3-for-3 in 2019. She extended the winning streak to four in her next start when pulling away late to a clear win in the Grade 3 Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes at Delaware Park on July 6.

After that victory, Gentle Ruler continued in good form. She posted a solid fourth-place effort, defeated by 1 ¼ lengths, in the Grade 3 Waya Stakes at Saratoga in August but then tallied back-to-back stakes scores in the Ramsey Farm Stakes at Kentucky Downs and the Grade 3 Rood and Riddle Dowager Stakes at Keeneland. In the latter race on Oct. 20, she saved ground under regular rider Chris Landeros and kicked clear impressively in midstretch to win by 2 ½ lengths.

Out of the winning Cozzene mare Winikins, Gentle Ruler is a half-sister to stakes winner Sarge Hudson.