HOLLYWOOD PARK : Delahoussaye Pulls Upset in the Inglewood

The best thing that happened to trainer Bob Hess Jr. last week was that a $100,000 claiming race on the turf scheduled for Wednesday didn’t lure enough entrants.

With that race failing to go, Hess decided to enter The Tender Track in a much tougher spot--the $107,500 Inglewood Handicap on Sunday at Hollywood Park.

Winless in three previous U.S. starts, the 6-year-old Topsider gelding was the longest shot in the field at 13-1, but he responded with the best effort of his life.

Ridden with his usual patience by Eddie Delahoussaye, The Tender Track surged past Journalism and favored Johann Quatz in the final sixteenth of a mile and won going away by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:40 for the 1 1/16 miles.

“The first time I ran this horse (Jan. 31 at Santa Anita) and the next two times (March 17 and April 2) I ran him back too quickly,” Hess said. “I talked to (bloodstock agent) Hubert Guy, who bought him for us, and he said to give the horse two months off between races.

“It’s a mental thing with him more than physical. He gets frazzled, like a lot of Europeans who bounce the second time in this country. Well, he’ll bounce after every race if you don’t give him two months off. He’ll probably be washy in the mornings for the next three weeks.”

Although Hess believed The Tender Track would run well, he didn’t believe the Kentucky-bred was up to beating all five of his foes on Sunday.

“He ran incredibly well, and the opposition might not have run their best races today,” he said. “If (the $100,000 claimer) had filled, I would have run the other day. I’m very fortunate.

“It’s a triple reward because the owners (Farlin Caufield, Howard Vaughan and Michael Sloan) have been great, patient and put up their money (for) this horse, because we had hoped for good things, and this was a tough race and the meet has been a little slow for us.

“The key was the ride. Eddie was extremely patient. A lot of guys would have panicked at the three-eighths pole when (Johann Quatz) flew by him.”

With Hess’ main rider, Kent Desormeaux, aboard fourth-place finisher Luthier Enchanteur, Delahoussaye regained the mount on The Tender Track, whom he had ridden to a third-place finish in his first U.S. race.

“He’s run some good races,” Delahoussaye said. “He hasn’t run bad races. He had a right to do this. When I asked him to go on, he really cut and I said, ‘We’re going to win us a race.’ ”

Losing for the first time since he joined the Wally Dollase barn five races ago, Journalism finished a half-length in front of 2-1 favorite Johann Quatz, who has now been the beaten favorite in his last two races after an auspicious U.S. debut.

“He washed out again today,” jockey Chris McCarron said of Johann Quatz. “He was real hot and got rank in the race. He didn’t settle much for me today. I was last (on the backside), but he was pulling me out of the saddle.

“I finally had to put him on the outside just to keep from clipping heels and when I put him in the clear, he ran off.”

Horse Racing Notes

Trainer Bob Hess Jr. also won the ninth race with Roo Tale, a former $6,250 claimer who has now won his last six races around one turn. . . . Pacific Squall, who hasn’t run since being upset by Alysbelle in the La Canada Stakes on Jan. 30, worked seven furlongs in 1:26 4/5 Sunday morning for trainer Paco Gonzalez. Pacific Squall is expected to take on Paseana in the Vanity Handicap on July 18. . . . Jockey Kent Desormeaux won three times Sunday with Roo Tale, Spruce Navy and Just Sid, and apprentice Sal Gonzalez Jr. had two victories.