Frankel Wins in Record Fashion

Unable to win with any of his runners in four graded stakes the last two days at Churchill Downs, trainer Bobby Frankel got some consolation late Saturday afternoon at Hollywood Park.

Leroisdesanimaux, who was making his first start in a stakes in the U.S., not only won the $110,900 Inglewood Handicap by two lengths, but broke the turf course record for 1 1/16 miles in the process.

Owned by T N T Stud and ridden by Jon Court, Leroisdesanimaux beat 2-1 favorite Designed For Luck and seven others in the Grade III, covering the distance in 1:38.45. This eclipsed the old mark of 1:38.77 set by Fantastic Fellow when winning the 1998 Inglewood.

A winner of one in three in South America before coming to this country, Leroisdesanimaux, a 4-year-old, Brazilian-bred, has won three of four in California. A troubled fourth in his sprint debut Jan. 7, he won two races at a mile over the Santa Anita grass Jan. 31 and March 20 before the Inglewood.

“I didn’t know anything about this horse other than what I read in the Daily Racing Form and the information I got from the assistant trainer” Humberto Ascanio in the paddock, said Court, 43, a veteran rider who spent most of his career in Kentucky before moving coming west earlier this year. “Boy, he panned out today. It was impressive. He felt like a stakes horse.

“He rated kindly on the front end, and when I called on him, he had plenty of finish. It was a joy to ride him.”

Designed For Luck, who was attempting to end a three-race losing streak, finished two lengths clear of 21-1 shot Devious Boy, then came Irish Warrior, the 5-2 second choice, Just Wonder, Tronare, Seinne, Statement and Golden Dragon.

“This horse ran his race,” said Patrick Valenzuela, who was aboard the runner-up after winning twice earlier on the card. “He just got outrun and it took a track record to beat him.”

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The on-track attendance at Hollywood Park was 21,452, up from 20,625 a year ago. The total mutuel handle was $24,198,385, the third largest in the history of the track and up significantly over the $22,584,838 wagered in 2003.

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Making his graded stakes debut for trainer Allen Jerkens, Medallist ($19) handed 2-5 favorite Forest Danger his first loss in the $150,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct.

Owned by Robert Clay, Medallist, a 3-year-old son of Touch Gold, attacked Forest Danger, who had won his three previous starts by a combined 16 1/2 lengths, from the outset, drew clear entering the stretch and won by 3 1/4 lengths despite drifting out badly under jockey Jorge Chavez in the final eighth of a mile.

“I’ve been on this horse in the mornings and he gets out in the mornings too,” Chavez said. “I was a little surprised how far out he went today. Mr. Jerkens has done a great job with this horse and I know next time he won’t drift out so bad. Mr. Jerkens will find a way to fix it.”

It was the second win in five starts for Medallist, who had finished 4 1/2 lengths behind Forest Danger when they met in an allowance race on March 13 at Gulfstream Park.

In the other graded stakes on the card, heavily favored Dedication beat Aud and five other fillies and mares in the $100,000 Beaugay Handicap. Javier Castellano rode the 5-year-old Highest Honor mare for owner Ghislaine Head and trainer Christophe Clement. She completed the 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:46.38 for her seventh win in 19 career outings.