Hombre Rapido takes Los Angeles Times

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Hombre Rapido has earned an entry in the record book with his last two starts at Hollywood Park.

Last December, he set a track record of 1:01.67 for 5 1-2 furlongs with a victory in an allowance race. Saturday, Hombre Rapido scored his first stakes win in the $200,000 .

He won despite giving his backers a few anxious moments in the stretch.

After setting a torrid pace of 21.51 and 43.43 seconds, Hombre Rapido was all out to hold off the late rally of Publication, whose missed by a length.

Ridden by Jose Valdivia, Jr. for trainer John Sadler, Hombre Rapido ($15) finished six furlongs in 1:08.49.

"He broke like a shot," Valdivia said. "He got a little late at the sixteenth pole, but he had enough."

Publication closed from last and finished a length in front of Giovanetti, who was second early. Disturbingthepeace was fourth, followed by Echo Eddie, Golden Hare, Do Whats Right and Men's Exclusive.

Disturbingthepeace and Echo Eddie were part of a favored entry at even money. Men's Exclusive was trying to become the first 10-year-old stakes winner at Hollywood Park.

Hombre Rapido, a 6-year-old, has won 5 of 20 starts and $313,330 for the Granja Vista del Rio Stable.

*Total Impact won his first stakes in the U.S. with a perfect trip in the $150,000 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap.

A Group 1 stakes winner in Chile in 2001, Total Impact made amends for a second-place finish in the San Bernardino Handicap at Santa Anita last month with a two-length win in the Grade 2 Mervyn Leroy.

Ridden by Mike Smith, Total Impact ($6.60) ran 1 1-16 miles in 1:40.88. He was third early, stalking the pace of Wooden Phone and Palmeiro, who set early fractions of 23 and 45.63 seconds.

Smith guided Total Impact closer to the front with a wide rally on the final turn, turned back a challenge from Sunday Break in early stretch and pulled clear late.

Fleetstreet Dancer closed from fifth to finish second, four lengths clear of Piensa Sonando, who was last early in the field of eight. Sunday Break, who made a promising run on the final turn, faded to finish fourth, and was followed by Wooden Phone, Lethal Instrument, Bring Home Thegold and Palmeiro.

The 5-year-old Total Impact races for Sultan Mohammed Saud al Kabeer and trainer Laura de Seroux.