Leroy's Dynameaux wins Will Rogers by neck

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Leroy's Dynameaux arrived at trainer Mark Glatt's stable last winter with strict instructions from owner Alan Klein.

"I told Mark, 'I don't want to see this horse on dirt or [synthetic tracks],'" Klein said at the time.

Klein had a hunch Leroy's Dynameaux would thrive on turf. His assessment has been a spot-on.

Making his fourth career start Sunday, Leroy's Dynameaux won his first stakes in for 3-year-olds at Hollywood Park.

Ridden by Joel Rosario, Leroy's Dynameaux ($29.20) rallied five-wide on the final turn and held off a late run from 7-5 favorite Bogie to win the Grade 3 Will Rogers by a neck. Leroy's Dynameaux ran 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:40.43.

The victory, and Rosario's ride, left Glatt delighted. It represented his first stakes win since October.

Rosario had Leroy's Dynameaux in seventh in the eight-horse field on the backstretch and made an eye-catching move on the turn to move closer to Macias, who set an early pace of 22.85 and 45.71 seconds. With a furlong remaining, Leroy's Dynameaux had moved to fourth, within two lengths of leader Macias, and sustained the rally to the finish.

"We thought we might get the jump on Bogie," Glatt said. "We got the pace we expected."

Bogie, four-wide on the turn, was in traffic on the turn and finished well, just missing.

Leroy's Dynameaux has won 2 of 4 starts and $102,800 for Klein and his wife, Lee. He has never been worse than third.

By Leroidesanimaux, Leroy's Dynameaux won a maiden race over about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita in his debut in March and was second in an optional claimer there in April. He was third, beaten three-quarters of a length, in the Alcatraz Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on May 15 in his first start beyond about 6 1/2 furlongs.

"He had a right to move forward from that race," Glatt said.

Klein and Glatt said they plan to start Leroy's Dynameaux in the $150,000 La Jolla Handicap over 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar on Aug. 14.