view raw text
SWEBT LAVENDER B F BY GOLDFINCH LYDIA SWEET LAVENDER But once has the American Derby been won by a filly and that was when Modesty captured the great race when it was first run in 1S84 But several other fillies have made bold bids for its honors and no doubt in the course of its history it will again fall to others of the gentler sex In 1SS7 Miss Ford was second and Wary third to C H Todd In 1888 Los Angeles ran third to Emperor of Norfolk and Falcon The last tima a filly figured in the first three was in 1389 when Retrieve ran third to Spokane and Sorrento It is an element to be considered that but few flllios have been started for the chief event of the western turf and in this light their part in connection with its decision has been highly creditable creditableIn In the Derby of this year but seven fillies were entered as against eightysix colts and geldings On this preponderance of numbers alone the race should fall to the colts but such fine fleet fillies as Sweet Lavender Lady Schorr and Sadie 8 are not without chances of following the example set by Modesty Sweet Lavender was one of the best fillies of lafit year and has already demonstrated that she is in fine form this year In nearly all of her races as a twoyearold she contended against the very elect of her year and more than once showed her heels to many of the best of the colts Her debut was not marked by success It was in a half mile dash at Morris Park May 7 and she got off thirteenth and finished ninth in a field of eighteen starters The good colt Far Rockaway was the winner with Billionaire second and Bounteous third The half was done in 471 471In In her next race Sweet Lavender ran third to Harlem Lane and Cherries It was again over the last half mile of the Eclipse Course for a purse and Sweet Lavender was beaten a length and a head in such rapid time as 46h These two races fitted her to fly for higher game than purses and on May 23 she came out as a candi ¬ date for the Gaiety Stakes for twoyearold fil ¬ lies The starters were Sweet Lavender Mary JJcCoy Princess Popper Tower of Candles Add Mauga Luerana Anecdote Lillian Hoff ¬ man and Educate All carried 112 pounds ex ¬ cept Anecdote and Educate who were penalized for previous successes Sweet Lavender won asily by a length and a half in 481 with Mary McCoy second and Princess Pepper third Her next essay was at the Brooklyn Jockey Clubs meeting May 28 when she started in the Clover Stakes at four and a half furlongs and was re ¬ turned the winner in a driving finish with Ashes and Luerana She was the favorite and taking the lead soon after the start withstood chal ¬ lenge after challenge and won by a head from Ashes with Lnerana a half length further back The other starters were Anecdote Tower of Candles Princess Pepper Maria Bolton Bram ¬ ble Bush Goddess of Night Donna Henrietta and Maud Gonne It was a fast race 55 55Sweet Sweet Lavender did not start again until June 19 at Sheepshead Bay where she ran sec ¬ ond to Dublin in the Foam Stakes at five fur Jongs done in 101 The starters and weights were Dublin 117 Sweet Lavender 119 Long ¬ shoreman 117 Contend 117 Fake 122 Smile 117 Lief Prince 122 The Hhymor 117 Alfonso 117 Telamon 117 and Prince of Melrose 117 Dublin won by a length Sweet Lavender de ¬ feating Longshoreman a head for second money It was a thoroughly good race and marked Sweet Lavender OB fit to go to the post in any sort of company She was jostled and thrown out of her stride at the head of the stretch else she might even have won At the flame meeting July 2 she won the Vernal Stakes for twoyearold fillies in fine style giv dug away much weight to all of her antagonists antagonistsl l The starters were Sweet Lavender 122 Lady of the Valley 115 Elizabeth M 115 and Add Orionta Double Six and All Saints 110 each Elizabeth M was a 1 to 2 favorite but finishing with the utmost resolution Sweet Lavender won out by threequarters of a length Lady of the Valley beating Elizabeth M two lengths for second place The time was 102 102At At Brighton Beach July 14 Sweet Lavender won the Venus Stakes for twoyearold fillies at 5i furlongs It was her last success of the year but by no means her last meritorious perfor ¬ mance Those going to the post were Anecdote 122 Sweet Lavender 119 and Lady of the Val ¬ ley Add Janice All Saints Orienta and Queen Pepper 103 each Sweet Lavender was favorite at 9 to 5 and a handy winner by length in 1 079g Lady of the Valley finishing second two lengths before Add July 24 she ran third to the flying Cap and Bells and Janice for the Spinster Stakes at threequarters of a mile Cap and Bolls won by ten lengths Janice beating Sweet Lavender a head for second place Cap and Besides being an American Derby candidate Sweet Lavender is also engaged in the Engle wood Stakes at Washington Park and it is un ¬ derstood that if all goes well with her she will bo here and start in both events She is a good one and has never run a bad race since she first started Bolls and Sweet Lavender carried 122 each Queen Pepper 112 Janice and Orienta 107 each The race was run in 1 14 and though beaten Sweet Lavender was by no moans dis ¬ graced gracedAfter After this Sweet Lavender ran five times and was placed but once In the McGrathiana Stakes at Saratoga August 13 she was left at the post in a race she would probably have won Her next start was in the Futurity Stakes in which she finished fourth to Ballyhoo Bey Olympian andTommy Atkins def eatingElkhorn Blues All Green Cap and Bells Golden Age Tower of Candles Belvino and Lady of the Valley For the Belles Stakes at Sheepshead Bay September 5 she ran second to Noonday giving the winner ten pounds and defeating Lady Schorr Elizabeth M Glennellie and five other good fillies Getting off so badly as to have but little chance she ran unplaced for the Willow Stakes at Gravesend and wound up her twoyearold career by finishing sixth in the memorable Matron Stakes at Morris Park in which Beau Gallant defeated Commando and The Parader
