Lou's Bucks, a 5-year-old gelding who swims and gallops in his spare time, drove through the stretch yesterday to win the $40,000 Basil Hall Stakes, a five-furlong sprint on the Pimlico Race Course turf.

The gray son of Northern Wolf resides at a farm in Oxford, Pa. His trainer, John Conner, said Lou's Bucks keeps in shape by swimming and galloping long distances through the Pennsylvania countryside.

"He becomes very difficult in a racetrack atmosphere," Conner said. "He only sees the track when he runs, so that keeps him happy."

The happy horse won by 1 1/4 lengths as the favorite over the late-charging Buying Rain. It was Lou's Bucks' sixth victory in 32 races. He has also finished second five times and third five times in races from Florida to New Jersey. He'll probably race again next month.

"He has to run every two weeks," said his owner and breeder, Judith Gaebel. "Otherwise he gets bored."

Pub Date: 6/20/99