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MONTGOMERY IN A DRIVE. BEATS FRANK GILL BY A HEAD FOR COMMONWEALTH HANDICAP. Meggs Hill Wins the Vernal Stakes for James R. Kecne Joe Ncalon the Only Successful Favorite at the Bay. New York, .Inly 0. Quality ami quantity wore both represented in the week-end card at Cheeps-head ltay today. The seven races had a total of 101 entries, lint there were twenty-six withdrawals, the Ilighwcight Handieap and the steeplechase being materially reduced. Two stakes were down for decision, the Commonwealth Handicap, practically a renewal of the Suburban, and the Vernal Stakes for two-year-old iillies. Montgomery, flic 5,000 western three-year-old, starting at the lucrative odds of 10 to 1, captured the Commonwealth Handicap from Frank Jill, the favorite, in a furious drive, the margin of victory being extremely close, witii the loser, strange to saj going tlie faster of the two in the final strides. Experts pronounced the victory of Emil Heras recent acquisition to be a lluke and blamed jockey Willie Knapp for the defeat of the winner of the Coney Island Jockey Club Stakes. Unlike in Ids last preceding effort, Montgomery developed brilliant and unaccustomed early speed today and was able to maintain from the start a striking distance pursuit of the fast going pacemaker and then come on and overhaul Frank Gill, the leader, when a sixteenth out. Knapp was apparently caught napping and woke up just in time to find victory that was within his grasp turned into defeat. It was admitted, however, that Flip Flap was the heroine of the race. .1. A. Itenuets mare, as well is Ironsides and Iliilamler got away so poorly as to have been virtually left. Flip Flap electrified the spectators by her wondrous lliglit of sliced through the closing six furlong, it is said that Herz won heavily today, whereas it is claimed Montgomery was unbacked last Saturday. Montgomerys weight for the ISrighton Handicap is now 100 pounds. .1. Uv Kecne,.gof the big. end of the. Vernal Stakes. This time Meggs Hill carried the white and blue spots to victory. With Miller up. she drew clear at the start and held sway throughout. The running was marked by much crowding and the race was not truly run. Ella ONeill was jumped upon and had one of her heels nearly severed. The Vernal Stakes is another of the Coney Island Jockey lulls elderly events. It was lirst nin in ISO I and its history is: Year. Winner. Wt. Jockey. Val. Time. IS! t California 107 Doggett . . .,07.0 1 :02: 1S!1."i Axiom 120 Doggett ... 1,47.0 1:-A ISOC. Winged Foot 127. MCtferty . 1,S07. 1:02$ 1S07 I triar Sweet 111 Taral 1,47.0 1:01 1S0S Whiplash llo Doggett 2.310 1:01 1S09 Killishandra 120 Clawson ... 2,110 1:02 1!MK Sweet Lavender. . 122 Littlctiohl . 1,037. 1:02- IlOl llatasoo 11". OConnor .. 2.010 1:002 1002 Duster lit Shaw ::,r.o5 1:01 1!I0:: Beldame 107 Bulliuan ... -!,3O0 1:01 1!H Tradition 107 Travels ... 1,010 1:02J l.lO.-, Edna Jackson lir. F. ONeill . 4,330 l:0OJ r.mi; Misgivings no w. Miller., 1.7.10 r.o 1007 Meggs Hill 11." W. Miller. . -1,120 l:01g Kosebeii, held at prohibitive odds, was defeated in the first race. The crowd was surprised to see Dreamer easily take his measure at six furlongs. Right on top of this Garrett, another odds-on public choice, came to grief. Joe Nealmi was the only favorite that succeeded in rewarding his backers. The weather was perfect, the track fast and a big half holiday crowd of approximately :!O,O0O saw 1 lie racing. l?oth inclosures were filled to nearly their utmost capacity. Harney Schrelber arrived here Friday night from Buffalo and is domiciled at Sheepshead Hay. He intends to leave for Woodlands Farm next week.
