HOLLYWOOD PARK : Megan’s Interco Breaks Track Record

The losing streak of Megan’s Interco didn’t last very long.

Five weeks after his five-race winning streak ended in the El Rincon Handicap at Santa Anita, the 5-year-old gelding rebounded with a record-setting victory despite losing his left front shoe in the $109,200 Shoemaker Handicap Sunday at Hollywood Park.

Never far off the pace set by Norwich, who upset him in the El Rincon, Megan’s Interco took charge entering the stretch and went on to beat Furiously by a length in 1:32 3/5 for the mile on turf. That broke the course record of 1:32 4/5 set by Miesque when she won the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Nov. 21, 1987 and equaled by Journalism in the 1993 Shoemaker.

Owned by Milt Bronson and trained by Jenine Sahadi, Megan’s Interco, the 2-1 favorite, has won nine of 17 lifetime.

Furiously, improving on the grass after finishing last in the San Bernardino Handicap on dirt, finished four lengths clear of Rapan Boy. Johann Quatz was fourth, then came Norwich and Earl Of Barking, the 4-1 second choice.

“It’s wonderful that he got the track record,” Sahadi said. “I knew he could do it and I’m just so excited for him. This horse is like a godsend. He has the greatest personality at the barn, he’s so fun to be around and he loves to train.”

Jockey Corey Black said: “I kicked (Megan’s Interco) in gear at the quarter-pole and he found another gear that I didn’t even know he had. I didn’t know who was behind me, but I knew they better be running.”

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Hollywood Park stewards Pete Pedersen, Ingrid Fermin and Tom Ward issued a ruling Sunday voiding the claim of Johnny Mc by Inside Track Racing on April 29.

In a bizarre mixup, the identities of Johnny Mc and Stalvoy were switched for more than a month before the mistake was discovered last Thursday. Stalvoy, not Johnny Mc, ran in the race in which he was claimed by Inside Track and trainer Bob Hess Jr.

Mirage Stable, the owners of Johnny Mc, were ordered to return the $25,000 they received for the claim to Hollywood Park’s paymaster of purses.