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ESPIONAGE IN FORBJ. I The footing at Hawthorne yesterday, while not fast, was a decided improvement over that of Monday. Consequently the racing was much better. Favorites, however, fared badly and daring the entire afternoon not a sDgle decided first -choice won. Cherry Leaf, at 2 to 1, was na equal favorite with Crosket in the third race and Mitten, at 11 to 5, was held at the same iprica that Lomond waB in the fifth. Espionages mila and an eighth in 1:51 was the bast performance of the day and shows that this filly is fit and good and back again to her two year-old form. There were only four startlers in the Espionage race, but it was by far the liveliest batting contest of the day. Go To Bed -closed favorite at 9 to 10, after being backed down from 8 to 5. Harry Nutter was heavily backed at 2 to 1 and better and Prince Blazes price shrunk from 6 to 1 down to 5 to 1. Espion--age was the outsider at 6 to 1. The field got away at the first break all together and from appearances all of the boys had waiting orders. There was no fast early pace set. The quartette went the first three-quarters under restraint in 1:16, with Prince Blazes in front. Then the real racicg began and -the pace quickened. Too seven furlongs was inn in 1:29 and the mile in 1:111. It was then apparently anyones race but when the .hard pressure came at the end Espionage was ;the only one that could stand it and Ehe won as she pleased by a length and a half. The fight :for the place between Harry Nutter and Go To Bod was a terrific one, the latter getting the -verdict by a nose in the last stride. Out of the five and one-half furlongs race .for twc-year-olds came a rattling good finish that clearly demonstrated the superiority of a strong boy like Knapp over lighter riders when it comes to a bruising drive. Enapp rode Floii-zar, who is a big loafing kind of a youngster and is inclined to sulk. Shortly after reaching the -stretch Florizar got to and passed the leader, -Hansford, and for an instant it seemed that he -was going to win easily ; but suddenly he sulked and refused to try, and Hansford again went to the front. All that remained for Enapp to do -was to give Florizar a good Hogging, which he -did, and although the youngster aid not want to run Enapp succeeded In making him, and in a furious drive he managed to get up in time to -win by a nose on the post. Had a small boy been riding Florizar ho could not have won with him. Cherry Leaf, back on his home grounds -again, won the third race in grand Btyle from Carnero. The race was at a mile and one-six-leenth, and a well-balanced field of five went to the post. Crocket led almost all the way, but when the stretch was reached she gave ic -up and Cherry Leaf, going to ttio front on call, won as he pleased. Carnero came from behind with a terrific rush through the laBt furlong -and nipped Crocket by a head for second place. Deorig finished fourth, two lengths back, Choiry Leaf was backed consistently at 2 to 1. Mitten, in the fifth event, gave a fine example of good racing luck winning a race. Nutt rod j the filly, and after being bumped and Jostled dowu the backatrotch she seemed to be hopelessly beaten on the far turn. Bore, bow-ever, Nuit found an opening on the rail, and it being his o-ily chance to wia, ho made a desperate oif jrt to get through, which succtedoa, but in tLo stretch it was a ICO to 1 cbauco that something would swerve to the inside and impede the filly. She had her good luck with her, -however, and ttealing up on tha rail managed to win by a-head from Azaa. Had Bilaud, who .rode the latter, skinned tho rail at the head of I the stretch, he would have pinched Mitten off and could have won the race himself. There was a bunch of seventeen common 1 maidens in the first race and Emma Nora, at 15 to 1, proved the best. She went to the front early and after leading all the way won, eased up by three lengths. Deceive beat the favorite, Bamlet, a neck for second place. The sport closed with a condition race for three-year-olds at one mile, which La Josephine won easily by two lengths from Silver Tone. The yearlings belonging to Appiegate and Mc-Meekin, which are to be sold at tho Union Stock Yards next Saturday night, arrived at Hawthorne safe and sound yesterday. They are a fine-looking lot and should bring good prices. W. C. Fessenden got in from the east yester-, day with Ppacemaker, Barataria and four others. "Wally" is as big and "sassy" as ever.
