INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) -Rail Trip returned from an eight-month layoff to beat Sangaree by 3 1/4 lengths Saturday in the $150,000 Mervyn Leroy Handicap at Hollywood Park.

The heavy favorite under new rider Rafael Bejarano, Rail Trip stalked pacesetter Tres Borrachos for most of the Grade 2 race, took the lead with ease at the top of the stretch and won in 1:42.37.

``Unbelievable, he just galloped,'' said Bejarano, a winner of three races two days in a row. ``He surprised me a lot. I knew I had a lot of horse at the end. I thought I was going to win easy, but not this easy.''

Rail Trip paid $3, $2.60 and $2.10. Long-shot Sangaree returned $8 and $4.60, and . Cigar Man paid $7.20 to show.

Trainer Ron Ellis said he plans to have the 5-year-old gelding attempt to defend his title in the Hollywood Gold Cup on July 10.

``He's a much more mature horse now, physically and mentally,'' Ellis said. ``He's a fresh horse and he's happy, but he's got to win the Gold Cup first to say he's better than last year. He sure acts like it with the way he has been training and acting.''

Saturday's victory was the seventh in 10 starts for Rail Trip. He earned $90,000, taking his career total to $877,790.