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Molengao dazzles in Mervyn LeRoy TNT Stud's homebred MOLENGAO (Brz) (Royal Academy) raced near the back of Saturday's $150,000 Mervyn LeRoy H. (G2), came four wide in the stretch and pulled 4 1/2 lengths clear. In the process, the chestnut proved that he was ready for his close-up in this race named for the famed movie director, who was also director of Hollywood Park from 1941 until his death in 1986. Mambo Train (Kingmambo) grabbed the lead soon after the start, but found company in the form of a stubborn Billy Allen (Ire) (Night Shift). Those two battled through splits of :24, :46 4/5 and 1:11 2/5 while Molengao was content to run in the rear. Moving up around the second turn, the eventual winner quickly took over through a mile in 1:36 2/5 and was easily the best under a brisk hand ride from jockey Victor Espinoza. The Paulo Lobo trainee completed 1 1/16 miles on the Cushion Track in 1:42 4/5. Molengao paid $4.60, $2.60 and $2.10 as the 6-5 favorite in the eight-horse field. Porto Santo (Fr) (Kingsalsa), off at 3-1, gave back $3.80 and $2.80 while ending the $8.80 exacta ($1). Buzzards Bay (Marco Bay), making his return off a more than 10-month break, rallied well for third, just a nose back, to return $2.60 at nearly 5-2 and finish the $22.10 trifecta ($1). Mambo Train was another 3 1/2 lengths back to complete the 4-1-3-2 superfecta ($1) that paid $204.50. Following the top four under the line were Wanna Runner (El Corredor), Bravo Maestro (Stravinsky), Cimyla (Ire) (Lomitas [GB]) and Billy Allen. Molengao added a second graded win to his record with this one, taking the San Antonio H. (G2) in his 2007 debut by a head. He returned next out in the Santa Anita H. (G1), missing by three parts of a length, and also owns placings in last season's Sunset Breeders' Cup H. (G2) and Native Diver H. (G3). Molengao pushed his earnings to $588,477 and now owns a 14-4-2-5 career mark. The Brazilian-bred six-year-old was produced by Court Lady (Locris), a Brazilian Group 1 winner who captured six other stakes in the course of her career. Molengao is a half-brother to Group 1 queen Onefortheroad (Ghadeer), who is herself the dam of Brazilian champion and American Grade 3 winner Ay Caramba (Brz) (Roi Normand), and his other notable half-siblings are Group 2 victress New Rochelle (Ghadeer) and Group 1-placed Ohneguinha (Brz) (Vettori).
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