Frankel’s Leroidesanimaux Rules Turf

The early knock on Leroidesanimaux was that all of his U.S. wins had come over the firmer grass courses in California.

Debunking that, Leroidesanimaux, making his first start in almost six months, won a Grade II stake at Saratoga in late August.

When it started raining in Toronto last weekend, there was the fear that soft going might be Leroidesanimaux’s undoing. But that was no obstacle, either. Trainer Bobby Frankel’s 5-year-old coasted to a 7 3/4 -length win Sunday in the $849,756 Atto Mile at Woodbine. The margin was the biggest ever for Leroidesanimaux, who has won eight straight, eight of nine in the U.S. and nine of 12 overall.

Leroidesanimaux -- translated from French, the name means “the king of the animals” -- is headed for the $1.5-million Breeders’ Cup Mile at Belmont Park on Oct. 29. Frankel indicated that the horse’s owners, Goncalo and Regina Borges Torrealba of Brazil, are receptive to paying a supplementary fee of $135,000 to make him eligible. The European contingent will be formidable as usual in the Mile, but Leroidesanimaux would have the best chance of any North American-based horse.

“Leroy,” as he’s known around the Frankel barn in New York, won the Atto in 1:35. Ridden by John Velazquez, he paid $3.30 for $2 and earned $509,040, boosting his purses to $1.3 million. Mobil finished second and Le Cinquieme Essai ran third.

“He’s got to rank up there with the better turf horses I’ve trained,” said Frankel, who’s trained three champions, all distaffers, on grass. “He never gets beat.”

For the Torrealbas, Frankel also trains Melhor Ainda, one of the best female grass runners in the country and a candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Leroidesanimaux’s winning streak began Jan. 31, 2004, in an allowance race at Santa Anita. After another win there, he moved into stakes and won the Inglewood Handicap at Hollywood Park.

Leroidesanimaux capped the year with a win in the Morvich Handicap at Santa Anita and the Citation Handicap at Hollywood Park. This year, before the Atto, Leroidesanimaux won the Jimmy Kilroe Handicap at Santa Anita and the Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga.

*

Sorcerer’s Stone stayed undefeated, winning for the third time, in the $198,500 Arlington-Washington Futurity in suburban Chicago.

Ridden by Mark Guidry, the 5-1 shot beat Charley Tango by 8 1/2 lengths in 1:35, a record for the one-mile stake. Red Raymond was third and favored Grand Survival finished seventh.

Earlier on the card, Original Spin set a record for the $147,000 Arlington-Washington Lassie with a time of 1:35 4/5 . Favored Ex Caelis was second, beaten by 4 1/4 lengths, and Coolwind finished third.

*

In stakes for New York-breds at Belmont, Travelator won the Schenectady Handicap and Certifiably Crazy won the Ashley T. Cole Handicap.... At Fairplex Park, Garrett Gomez swept the Barretts stakes for 2-year-olds, winning the $120,000 Juvenile with Direct Connect, who overtook the 1-5 favorite, Bengal Lore, at the wire. Direct Connect, trained by Paul Aguirre, finished second at Del Mar in his only previous start. Gomez also rode Catch My Fancy, winner of the Barretts Debutante on Saturday.... For the third time, Joe Bravo won six races on a card at Monmouth Park. Other jockeys who’ve won six at the New Jersey track include Walter Blum, Chris Antley and Julie Krone.