DEL MAR : Lykatill Hil Wins as Delahoussaye Makes Return

Lykatill Hil kicks up his heels in the barn and in the paddock and in the post-parade. But he ran so well from the starting gate to the wire Sunday that he was able to kick up his heels in one more venue.

The winner’s circle.

Coming from behind under Eddie Delahoussaye, the 4-year-old gelding won the Del Mar Budweiser Breeders’ Cup Handicap over a small but formidable field. Front-running D’hallevant finished second and longshot Stuka rallied for third. Favored Brocco ran last.

The race offered a $200,000 purse, but the winner diminished that by $55,000. Because Lykatill Hill was not Breeders’ Cup eligible, he did not get the 55% share of the $100,000 the Breeders’ Cup Fund adds to the basic $100,000 value of the race.

Regardless, the Grade II victory was the biggest of Lykatill Hills’ career. He had won eight races and earned $366,700 in his previous 21 starts, but none at this level. His last Grade II start, for example, produced a fourth-place finish in the Bel Air Handicap at Hollywood Park on July 17.

“He likes to kick up his heels,” trainer Art Sherman said, “but he’s perfect on the track.”

Delahoussaye was the fifth jockey Lykatill Hil has had in six races this year. Delahoussaye was riding for the first time since being injured when he went over the rail on a horse the previous Saturday.

“I’m black and blue in some spots and sore some,” Delahoussaye said, “but I’m OK. Art did a good job with this horse and I thank him for riding me.”

Said Sherman: “A strong rider has to be at his peak because he’s such a handful, but Eddie’s been on a lot of champions and I felt good about him.”

Brocco, making his first start since the Kentucky Derby, did not fare well as the only 3-year-old in the field of older horses. He ran last all of the way under Gary Stevens.

“He didn’t show much today,” Stevens said. “I don’t think he cares much for this track. I hope that’s his problem.”

*

The entries for Wednesday’s closing-day feature, the $250,000 Del Mar Futurity, came and went Sunday and the probable favorite, Mr Purple, was left out. The Hollywood Juvenile Championship winner had not been nominated and, thus, was ineligible to run.

Nominations were due June 10, but a horse that had not been nominated could be supplemented. But the $10,000 supplementary fee was due last Friday. At that time, the nomination oversight had not been discovered by either trainer Ron McAnally or the racing office. It would have been the trainer’s responsibility, but the racing office probably would have prompted him in a case such as this. By Sunday morning, when the field was drawn, it was too late.

Two horses were supplemented Friday, the Canadian-import A.J. Jett and Desert Mirage, but the undefeated Mr Purple was not. He had lost before he could start.

McAnally still has a strong entrant in On Target. He broke his maiden in his first start with a five-length victory at Del Mar on Aug. 7.

Horse Racing Notes

Phone Chatter, the 1993 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner, takes another step on her comeback today when she makes her second 1994 start in the Vieille Vigne Handicap. She’s the 4-5 morning-line favorite after her easy victory in the C.E.R.F. Stakes.