HOLLYWOOD PARK / TURF DERBY : Another Upset: Europe’s Labeeb a $32.40 Winner

Duda wasn’t the only one staging a surprise on the third and final day of Hollywood Park’s Turf Festival.

About 35 minutes after the filly’s shocker in the Matriarch, Labeeb came through with a $32.40 upset in the $400,000 Hollywood Derby.

Ending a streak of failures for Europe in the Derby, the 3-year-old Lear Fan colt ran to a couple of solid works over the Hollywood Park turf course and defeated favored Helmsman by half a length in 1:46 2/5 for the 1 1/8 miles.

Before Sunday, horses who had made their previous start in Europe had gone 0 for 22 since 1986 in the Hollywood Derby, but Labeeb, who added blinkers, changed that.

A winner of one of eight while racing exclusively in France, he was sent to the United States with the hope he would improve on the firmer American turf courses.

Obviously, he did and gave trainer Neil Drysdale his first Grade I victory of the year and jockey Eddie Delahoussaye his second. The only other Grade I victory in 1995 for Delahoussaye, who is usually one of the country’s top riders in big events, came on Tinners Way in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar in August.

Saving ground throughout, Labeeb came out for clear sailing into the stretch and collared Helmsman, the 5-2 choice, nearing the wire for the $220,000 top prize.

“We added some little cheater blinkers,” Drysdale said. “It appeared in France that he had been hanging just a bit. The horse arrived from France in very good condition, so we decided to just take a chance here.”

Helmsman, who has two victories and two seconds in four starts in this country, had no excuses, but did finish 4 1/2 lengths clear of Da Hoss, the 3-1 second choice.

“He ran great,” Chris McCarron said of the runner-up. “He laid comfortable, had a good trip, got through with no problem and at the eighth pole I thought he was home free. Even when [Delahoussaye] got [alongside Helmsman], this colt pinned his ears and cut loose again. But he just couldn’t hold him off.”

Horse Racing Notes

Four races into her career and Exotic Wood still hasn’t been tested. The 3-year-old Rahy filly, who is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Martin Wygod and trained by Ron Ellis, remained unbeaten with a five-length victory in the $61,050 Pine Tree Lane Handicap. Ridden by Chris McCarron, the even-money favorite covered the seven furlongs in 1:21 without taking a deep breath. Angi Go, the 5-2 second choice, was second. . . . There is a Pick Six carryover of more than $175,000 for Wednesday. . . . The total handle of $12,487,362 was a record for the fall meeting at Hollywood Park and attendance and handle for the three-day Turf Festival was up considerably over last year.