Page 97 - Speedhorse April 2021

THE THOROUGHBRED INJECTION
Gentry Farms’ injection of Thoroughbred bloodlines into their Quarter Horse runners produced Cash Legacy, by Dash for Cash and out of the Secretariat daughter Sweet Legacy. The 1985 colt was a great rival to stablemate Such
An Easy Effort. In the West Texas Maturity-G3 at Sunland Park, Cash Legacy won with Such An Easy Effort running second. “We put both in the winner’s circle for the win photo,” Kirk says. “The two raced against each other three other times, always right there together.”
In the Kindergarten Futurity, they ran fifth and sixth. In a derby consolation at Ruidoso Downs, Cash Legacy finished second and Such An Easy Effort fourth. In the All American Gold Cup, Such An Easy Effort finished third behind Cash Legacy’s second. Such An Easy Effort qualified for the 1987 Dash For Cash Futurity while Cash Legacy ran in the Futurity Consolation. In 1989 Cash Legacy won the QHBC Championship Classic-G1 the same day Such An Easy Effort won the QHBC Distaff Classic-G1.
MOVING AHEAD
Basically, Kirk says, he’s just carrying on what his father started. “It’s all his fault,” he jokes, adding that he’ll continue his family’s tradition of breeding eight or nine mares, including both Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds, keeping a few for the track each year.
He considers the horses a kind of working hobby, adding to the variety that the family businesses provide. “I enjoy all of it,” he says,
“... breeding the horses, studying the pedigrees
and crosses, racing them and getting to see them succeed as they grow up. I try to travel to the farm in Kentucky about six times a year and enjoy going to auctions. And naturally, I enjoy the winner’s circle. It’s fun qualifying for these big graded stakes races, too; that’s an accomplishment in itself.
“I plan to keep on doing what I’ve been doing and what my father did before me: hopefully raise some more horses that can compete in graded stakes races. And since we own the “factory,” it’s nice to see the babies out of our mares do well, too. I definitely keep up with them as well.”
In his “spare time,” Kirk says he hasn’t missed skiing at least once in each of the past 60 years, and he also enjoys hunting quail with friends and their dogs on the family’s Dickens County ranch.
Spare time is scarce for a man running multiple large operations, yet Kirk remains accessible and admired by those who work with him. “He’s a happy-go-lucky kind of guy,” says Lubbock trainer Blane Wood, who has known Kirk and trained for the family for over 30 years. “He’s a very good person. He’s very hands-on, knowledgeable and pleasant to be around, and I enjoy his friendship. And I admire their breeding program that’s been a success as long as it has.”
“Kirk has followed his father’s footsteps, continuing the legacy of the great band of broodmares they have built,” adds Juan. “He’s very honest and very fair, and I’m very appreciative of the opportunity they’ve given me to train for them all these years.”
“I enjoy all of it,” he says, “... breeding the horses, studying the pedigrees and crosses, racing them and getting to see them succeed as they grow up.”
Fredaville, whose 4th dam is Gentry Brothers founding broodmare Cute Kiss, is the #3 Leading Dam of 2021.
Fovee, whose 2nd dam is Gentry Brothers founding broodmare Zipp Zoro is the #4 Leading Dam of 2021.
SPEEDHORSE April 2021 95
The Gentry Brothers
AQHA DAM OF DISTINCTION FEARLESS FREDA (shown) produced Champions Fredricksburg and Fredaville.