HOLLYWOOD PARK : Exbourne Rallies, Wins Shoemaker

Exbourne rallied from being trapped along the hedge and outran the field down the stretch Sunday at Hollywood Park to win the $110,300 Shoemaker Handicap, named after racing’s all-time winningest jockey.

Ridden by Gary Stevens, 5-year-old Exbourne clocked a mile on the turf at 1:33 2/5, finishing three-quarters of a length ahead of Super May. Dansil was third, another length back.

Exbourne ran in fourth place through most of the race and was encumbered by the field of seven 3-year-olds, who forced him to run along the hedge.

Super May forged to the front in mid-stretch but couldn’t hold off Exbourne.

“I tried three times to get through,” Stevens said. “I didn’t get loose until inside the sixteenth pole. It’s just unbelievable the turn of foot he showed.”

The winner paid $4.40, $2.60 and $2.40. Super May returned $4.00 and $3.60 and Dansil paid $4.20 to show. Exbourne was assigned top weight of 118 pounds, one more than Super May and seven more than Dansil.

Exbourne earned $65,300 for the fifth victory in 10 races to boost his career bankroll to $289,039. The victory also marked the first stakes triumph in this country for the son of Explodent, who raced in England early in his career.

Bill Shoemaker’s wife, Cindy, was present for the dedication of the winner’s circle named for her husband.

The Shoemaker Handicap was formerly known as the Premiere Handicap and was the stakes race run on the track’s opening day, June 10, 1938.

“It feels good to win it,” Stevens said. “If you’re watching out there anywhere Shoe, we’re all thinking of you and we all love you.”