About Lanni
“One of the most inspired horsemen of his generation.”
Thoroughbred Daily News
As a kid growing up in Montreal, Canada, Donato Lanni discovered his passion for the sport thanks to his father, a construction contractor who owned harness horses and took his son to races. In his early teens, Donato spent his summers working as a groom at Blue Bonnets Raceway, a track that operated for more than a century. Renowned trainer André Lachance took Lanni under his wing, describing him as “a natural with horses”.
“Andre came from a long line of successful horsemen,” says Lanni. “He was the Clint Eastwood of standardbred trainers: he didn’t like many people and didn’t talk much, but for some reason he liked me and taught me invaluable things like horses’ feet, conformation and soundness.” By the age of 16, Lanni already owned his own racehorse.
Drawn to thoroughbred racing, Donato saw an opportunity while studying marketing in the 90s at what is now the John Molson School of Business, one of the Top 100 in the world. “The school had a program that helped me get a work visa in the US. I left for Kentucky right after finishing my finals and didn’t even attend my graduation ceremony,” recalls Lanni who has lived in the state ever since.
Arriving with no contacts and having little luck finding work, Donato bought a tent when his money ran out and camped in the Kentucky Horse Park until he landed a job preparing yearlings for auction at a standardbred farm. From there, he secured a role selling stallion seasons for Walmac Farm where he eventually met movie theater magnate George Krikorian. The prominent horse owner took a liking to him and told Lanni he would buy a horse if one ever caught Donato’s eye. In the fall of 1999 at the yearling sales, Lanni spotted a bay filly he believed had all the makings of a stellar racehorse. For the modest price of $35,000, he bought her for Krikorian who named her Starrer. The horse went on to be a multiple Grade 1 winner and Donato’s first millionaire. “For me, it was never about gauging a horse just by pedigree,” reveals Lanni. “You learn how to really look at them mentally and physically, see their individual athleticism, class, promise, and how it all comes together.”
“You study their stride, their mechanics, their action, the way they carry their head, the way they move, and how they hit the ground. A lot of those horses are crooked: they have a hind leg you wouldn’t buy or a front end you wouldn’t buy,” says Lanni. “Most of them are not what you thought they’d be. That’s why so many yearlings that cost so much money don’t run, and the ones that don’t bring money do. You can’t measure heart and the will to win.”
Reflecting on Lanni’s holistic approach to assessing championship potential in a Bloodhorse Magazine article titled American Picker, Krikorian summed it up by saying “I don’t know anyone who has a better eye for horses than he does.”
“Donato Lanni is one of the best in the business in spotting unraced talent.”
Sid Fernando, President, Werk Thoroughbred Consultants
After moving up the ranks to Bloodstock Adviser, Lanni left Walmac in 2002 to become Director of Bloodstock Services at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms where he oversaw the mating and purchase of breeding stock and stallion services.
“Donato is one of the few guys that have the natural skill to look at a horse and identify an athlete. That’s rare,” reflected Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms owner John Sikura in a 2012 interview in Bloodhorse Magazine. “It’s hard picking out horses because a lot can go wrong and you have to constantly prove yourself. He’s very talented, he’s loyal, and I’m proud of his success.”
It was Sikura who introduced Donato to legendary trainer Bob Baffert who, along with Bruce Headley and Richard Matlow, became a mentor who helped Lanni to hone his skill at picking winners. “Working with Bob has had a major influence on my development and growth and Bruce and Richard shaped my work ethic and how I read horses,” offers Lanni. “Those guys always stayed till the end of the sale. They didn’t care about the catalog page: they put the book in their back pocket and looked at every horse. We became friends, they let me walk around with them for a couple of years, and I kept my mouth shut and learned.”
“I’m a little biased when it comes to Donato, but I think he’s as good a judge as there is in the world.”
John Sikura, President of Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms
Founding Lanni Bloodstock in 2019, Donato Lanni is now one of the most sought-after thoroughbred scouts in North America, a trusted advisor to his clients, and a partner in several ownership groups. By his count, he still sees about 15,000 horses a year. Among his past finds are Kentucky Derby and Horse of the Year winner Authentic, Breeder’s Cup winners Arrogate, Bayern, Gamine, Drefrong, Secret Circle, Preakness winner Lookin At Lucky, and Kaleem Shah’s Dortmund, and 2022 Queen’s Plate winner Moira.
Notoriously humble and discreet, Donato keeps his career and success in perspective. “I’m incredibly fortunate that I get to work with horses for a living and grateful that I’m able to choose ones that are beautiful, strong, athletic, and possess championship characteristics,” he reflects. “But that promise is only ever realized courtesy of some amazing trainers and owners. My story then and now is really all about passionate people willing to take a chance on me and talented horses.”
Indeed, it is those horses and longstanding friendships with those that trust and work with Lanni that invariably speak volumes about him.
“Donato takes it seriously, he works hard, he’s honest, and I have a lot of trust in him.”
Bob Baffert in Bloodhorse Magazine
