ROUNDUP : ENGLISH CONQUER AMERICAN HANDICAP.

Byline: Kevin Modesti Daily News Staff Writer

Two hundred twenty years after winning independence from King George, America is still having trouble with his horses and horsemen.

An English colt and three English trainers took a measure of revenge on the Fourth of July at Hollywood Park when Labeeb won and Neil Drysdale, Ben Cecil and Richard Cross dominated the trifecta in the $110,200 American Handicap.

Cecil-trained Gold and Steel led in final yards before Labeeb surged on the outside under Eddie Delahoussaye's measured ride to win in a stakes-record-tying 1:45 3/5 for 1-1/8 miles on turf. Cross-trained Earl of Barking wound up third as three stretch-runners took advantage of a killing pace by Romarin (seventh) and Beau Jingles (last).

The All England Club tri paid $182.30 and the three trainers seemed to enjoy the ironic timing.

``You know what George III wrote in his diary on this day?'' Cross said to an American reporter. `` `Not much happened today.' He must not have thought much of the place.''

``His prime minister probably thought he was rid of a troublesome colony,'' Drysdale chimed in.

Maktoum Al Maktoum's Labeeb, a British-bred son of Lear Fan who began his career in France, came to Hollywood Park last fall and has felt at home so near Manchester Avenue. He won the Hollywood Derby in November, defeating eventual Strub Stakes winner Helmsman, and returned from a long break in May with a flashy allowance victory. Thursday's win made him 3 for 3 in the United States and 4 for 11 overall.

``We just gave him the winter off because we were a bit concerned about the grass cours at Santa Anita, and because the main objectives are in the fall anyway,'' said Drysdale, who won the American with Silver Wizard in '95 and Man From Eldorado in '92.

Labeeb paid $5.40 after winning by half a length.

Romarin was a narrow second choice and couldn't take Beau Jingles' pressure, quitting after 6 furlongs in 1:09 3/5.

The second and third horses were ridden by resurgent jockeys. Pat Valenzuela, aboard Gold and Steel, was in his first big race since returning from Florida and parts unknown. Goncalino Almeida, on Earl of Barking, hoped his effort showed he is not limited by his Santa Anita leg fractures.

There were two simulcasts from out of state:

Wekiva Springs, the gray ghost in the Cigar barn, quickly took command from fourth on the far turn at Belmont Park and won the $500,000 Suburban Handicap by 1-1/4 lengths at even money. Mike Smith rode for trainer Bill Mott and owners Donald Dizney and James English.

The Gulfstream Park and Brooklyn handicap winner carried carried 122 pounds, eight more than 8-1 runner-up Mahogany Hall and four more than distant third L'Carriere.

Juddmonte Farms' Raintrap, ridden by Alex Solis for trainer Bobby Frankel, was at Arlington International for his first start since wiring the San Juan Capistrano and looked like the winner until the final jump of the Stars and Stipes Breeders' Cup Turf Handicap. Vladivostok ($8.60) and Craig Perret rallied off a slow pace to win by a short nose.

Special Price was third for Corey Black and Drysdale.

In a Belmont race that wasn't simulcast, Smooth Runner, from Californian Richard Mettee's barn, won the mile-on-turf Poker Handicap under Julie Krone.

In other Hollywood Park developments:

Upsets by claimer Plenish ($36.60) and maiden Make Room for Zoom ($64.40) blew up the pick six. The carryover to today's 4 p.m. program is $170,996.

Make Room for Zoom led Time for Skywalker and Skysrai in a ninth-race trifecta sired entirely by '85 Santa Anita Derby and '86 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Skywalker. All three are 3-year-old geldings.

Theater Master, a son of Theatrical making his fourth start for trainer Jack Saip, won an allowance race over one-time Derby hopeful Super Mining after some intensive gate schooling. Ridden to the gate by Laffit Pincay while the rest were warming up, the 3-year-old was loaded and backed out several times, and the unusual handling seemed to settle his nerves.

Delahoussaye rode three winners. Nakatani rode three to draw within 56-53 of Solis' lead.

Starry Ice, who's 3 for 3, stood out among six 2-year-old fillies entered in Saturday's Landaluce Stakes.