Leroidesanimaux won for the third consecutive time and broke a course record in the process when he went gate-to-wire Saturday to win the $110,900 Inglewood Handicap (gr. IIIT) by two lengths at Hollywood Park.Ridden by jockey Jon Court at 114 pounds, Lerodesanimaux covered the 1 1/16 miles on the Lakeside Turf Course in 1:38.45, breaking the previous record of 1:38.77 set by Fantastic Fellow in the 1998 running of the Inglewood Handicap."Boy, he panned out today," Court said after winning his first stakes race at Hollywood Park. "It was impressive. Excellent training. He felt like a stake horse. "He rated kindly on the front end, and when I called on him, he had plenty of finish. It was just a joy to ride him."Lerodesanimaux broke well and dueled with longshot Devious Boy for the early lead. He kept his head in front through both turns, then opened up into the stretch to pull away and win by daylight. Sent off as the fifth choice in the wagering, the 4-year-old chestnut colt paid $13.60, $6.40 and $5.20.Betting favorite Designed For Luck, ridden by Patrick Valenzuela, sat third, just off the pace, for much of the race. He made a mild rally at midstretch but was only able to grab second, and paid $4.20 and $3.60. Devious Boy, with Danny Sorenson up, held third with a good effort and paid $12.20 to show."He just got outrun," said Valenzuela, who won three other races Saturday. "This horse ran his race, and it took a track record to beat him."Trained by Bobby Frankel for owner T N T Stud, Leroidesanimaux was bred in Brazil and has won four times in seven tries. After finishing third beaten just over a length in his U.S. debut at the start of the year, Leroidesanimaux won a first-level allowance race at Santa Anita, and then returned off a rest to score again in a $100,000 optional claimer March 20. The Inglewood was his first stakes attempt.
The winner's share of $66,540 increased Leroidesanimaux's career earnings to $144,337. (Chart, Equibase)