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GRAPPLE WINS THE THISTLE. LEADS ALL THE WAY AND SCORES A DECISIVE VICTORY. Hyperion II. and First Mason Disappointments in the Feature Earl G. Is OverlookedLady Vincent Heavily Backed. Now York, Juno 2S. Favorites fared badly at Sheepshead Ray again today, Grapple being the only one to win and lie was at an extremely liberal price owing to strong support for two or three of the other starters. Grapple won the Thistle Stakes, the only fixture on the card, and the other winners, though at good prices, were in most instances heavily backed. The exceptions were Bayonet, which won the steeplechase, and Blue Book, winner of the closing race, though a few of the layers did not escape a scorching over the victory of the latter. The lields were large and, in many cases, it was dillicult. for the public to make a favorite. The meeting has become noted for the absence of winning choices. This, in a measure, is due to the large fields. Except for a tip on First Mason and another on Hyperion II., Grapple would have lieen a 7 to 5 favorite for the stake race. He easily figured to be the best bet of the day, but so strong was the following for the two horses named that at one stage of the betting they were equal choices with HI ni and it was only right at post time that .Mr. Farrolls horse became a fractional favorite. Grapple beat his company like breaking sticks, leading all the way, and after it was all over the players wondered why they could have gone so far astray in their" judgment of the outcome of the race. Hyperion II, ran well for five furlongs, but at no time threatened danger to the winner, while First Mason, in spite of the fact that he had worked a mile and a furlong in 1:54, could not raise a respectable gallop. Beekman, who rode Grapple, has shown great improvement lately, due to confidence restored by a few successful rides. He not only handled Grapple well, but also put up a finished ride on Lady Vincent, which was backed from 10 to 1 to 7 to 1 and won the fifth race. Tin tabular history of the Thistle Stakes is given below: Year. Winner. A. Vt. Jockey. Val. Time. 11102 Francesco :! ill Creamer .. .S2.1S0 1:53 mo:: a. Williams, .-t ii2 odom 2,535 i:rr." 1904 Dainty 4 ill Crimmins .. 3,255 1:32 1!I03 Go 15etween..4 10i Diggins 2,753 lr35 1900 First -Mason.. ; 112 .7. .Martin.. 2,815 1:523 1907 Grapple 5 !K5 ISeckman .. ::,0::5 1:5;: Karl G., which won a race under rather sensational circumstances at Belmont Park a few weeks ago, was overlooked in the opening race by all except a few, but when it came to racing lie showed a very good performance and won going away by a length. He was bid up from his entered price of ,500 to ,500, but was protected with the usual advance of . Karl G. was "boosted" after his other winning race and his owner said today that it cost him about 00 to win two races. Earl G. is a very smart looking colt, by Pirate of Penzance out of Alma T.. and looks to be well worth the figure at which his owner bid him In There were several wild plunges which did not materialize. One of these was for Merry Saint in 1he steeplechase. She vas backed from 5 to 1 to 5 to 2, but stopped badly after racing well up for a mile and a half. Another losing plunge was made on Spring Flower in the fifth race. No one seemed to know just where the tip came from, but nevertheless it was all over the place, the filly being backed from 10 to 1 to 1.; to 5. She was caught in a jam soon after the start and was never prominent afterwards. The card for tomorrow is one of the very best of the season, ineluding as it does, the new 5,000 Coney Island Jockey Club Stakes, the Great Trial for two-year-olds, the Sporting Stakes in which amateurs will ride, and a steeplechase which attracted a brilliant field, including T. S. Martin, winner of the Whitney Memorial. The weather promises to be fair and n crowd little short of that which visited l!elmont Park on Decoration day is expected to be en hand.
