Hesabull Has More Than Enough in the Mervyn LeRoy

With a quarter of a mile to run in the $106,200 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap on Saturday at Hollywood Park, trainer Mike Chambers thought Hesabull was finished.

“I thought he was done,” he said. “They all looked like they had him surrounded.”

The other four members of the LeRoy field were right with the 4-year-old Dispersal colt entering the top of the stretch, but the pacesetter was far from through.

Under jockey Goncalino Almeida, the 19-10 second choice found more when challenged and went on to beat 11-1 shot Region by a half-length in 1:41 1/5 for the 1 1/16 miles.

In the process, Hesabull, who is owned by Three Sisters Stable, ended a five-race losing streak. The victory was his first since the Affirmed Handicap over this track last July, but he had been second three times in those five losses in graded stakes.

“He seems to really like this track,” Chambers said after Hesabull won for the third time in five starts at Hollywood Park. “He runs so tough. He never throws in a bad [race] and he keeps trying. And [the competition] is not getting easier, it’s getting tougher every time.”

Kingdom Found, the 17-10 favorite based on his troubled trip in last month’s San Bernardino Handicap, had no excuses Saturday and finished third, nearly two lengths behind the winner.

“My horse ran well,” said Eddie Delahoussaye of Kingdom Found. “I couldn’t get [Hesabull] to go, so I tracked him, but that horse was very relaxed and mine was struggling a little bit.”

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Gary Stevens and Tychonic, a successful team in the past, will be reunited for the first time in nearly a year in the $100,000-added Inglewood Handicap today at Hollywood Park.

The rider, who won his third Kentucky Derby on Saturday aboard Silver Charm, and the now 7-year-old son of Last Tycoon rattled off five consecutive victories in late 1995 and early ’96 before the streak was broken when he ran third in last year’s Inglewood behind Fastness and Helmsman.

Sent to the sidelines after losing to Fastness again in the Shoemaker Breeders’ Cup Mile 11 months ago, Tychonic was ridden by Kent Desormeaux in two starts at Santa Anita--a victory in the Cardmania and a fourth-place finish as the 6-5 favorite in the San Simeon Handicap.

Stevens is back today and the Inglewood is run at 1 1/16 miles on turf, a distance at which Tychonic has won three times in six starts.

Opposing the 6-5 favorite are Kaafih Homm, Joy Of Glory, El Angelo, Mateo, Cleante and Irish Wings.

Horse Racing Notes

The total handle on the Kentucky Derby at Hollywood Park and its satellites was $4,411,765, up slightly over last year’s figure of $4,373,549. The on-track handle was down a bit with $840,402 bet this year compared to $842,217 in 1996. . . . There is a Pick Six carryover for today of $276,243.86. . . . Alex Solis will be at Sportsman’s Park in Chicago to ride Housa Dancer for trainer Ben Cecil in the $300,000 Sixty Sails Handicap at 1 1/8 miles. . . . Jockey Rene Douglas was given a five-day suspension, beginning Friday, after being disqualified from second to third on Prosperous De Oro in Friday night’s fourth race. . . . Eddie Delahoussaye won three times Saturday.