Mel Stute, Trainer of Snow Chief, Takes Over Dolly Green’s Horses

Mel Stute, who trains Snow Chief, the current favorite to win the Kentucky Derby, has taken over the training of horses owned by Beverly Hills socialite Dolly Green, replacing Laz Barrera.

Barrera, who won the Kentucky Derby with Bold Forbes in 1976 and swept the Triple Crown races with Affirmed in 1978, began training for Green five years ago, the year after she went to the expensive Keeneland sales as “the mystery woman” and bought five yearlings for $2.2 million.

In 1984, Green’s stable earned more than $900,000, but last year, her horses failed to win a major race. Barrera himself slumped with his public stable, dropping from 29 stakes winners in 1984 to 11 and slipping from 3rd to 13th in the national trainer standings.

“A lot of Dolly’s horses got hurt last year, and because of tax reasons she didn’t go to the sales the last two years,” Barrera said. “She’s a wonderful lady, and I wish her luck.”

Stute, who has about 15 other clients, said that Green has 46 horses, but according to Barrera, only about 14 of those are in training.

Green spent close to $20 million at the Keeneland and Saratoga sales from 1980 through 1983. Her two most expensive purchases--a $1.4-million Northern Dancer colt named Yukon and a $1.5-million Seattle Slew filly named Royal Strait Flush--never made it to the races and were retired for breeding.

Green’s top winners included Paris Prince, Spectacular Love, My Darling One and Happy Bride.

Paris Prince won the 1983 California Derby, then finished 10th in the Kentucky Derby and 12th in the Preakness. He was one of the horses who arrived at Stute’s barn at Santa Anita Thursday, but because of a hip injury won’t be able to run soon.

With Snow Chief as the anchor, Stute’s barn earned $2.9 million in purses last year, the best he has done since he started training in 1947. Through mid-March this year, the Daily Racing Form had Stute in fourth place nationally with $1.1 million in purses, about half of that total won by Snow Chief.