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ROCKY OBRIEN THE VICTOR HOPEFUL STAKES WINNER TRIUMPHS OVER 1 G.OOD BAND VAT GRAVESEND. Prince Imperial. Odds-On Favorite in tho Race, Makes a Poor Showing Prince Gal Takes the Handicap, i Now York. September 22. Rocky OBrien, the Hopeful Stakes hero, won a sensational victory in tlie two-year-old handicap at Gravescnd today. This race was the principal feature of the card, and was contested ly several noted juveniles, including the Canadian crack. Prince Imperial. litis youngsters, defeat helped to save the day for the layers, who hud lost heavily in the preceding live races. Prince ImiHUial and Rocky OBrien were handicapped at a difference of only two pounds and. despite the formers inferior record. lie was backed into favoritism at almost prohibitive odds, while the con-tiuernr of Sweep receded from to 1 to 7 to 1 at the closing of betting. Hoeky OBrien demonstrated his" suiieriority over the favorite in a most conclusive manner. Both were running head and head a half mile from the finish after suffering equally in the matter of early interference. When they began the final quarter the Meddler colt left his rival Ih-Iiind and in a brilliant stretch sprint came from all but lust place to heart Billiard Ball for first money 1n the last stride. It was a fitting climax to an afternoon of good sport. The handicap at a sprinting distance was next in importance and furnished another firstrdass contest. Though .conditioned for all ages, none of the juveniles participated in the running. Prince Imperial, an eligible at ninety-two pounds was among those that dodged the issue. At the head of the stretch the outcome was decidedly in doubt between five Be Mund. Chief Hayes, Dreamer. Prince Gal and Huck. The favorite, Angelus. had already begun to tire. A furlong out Ie Mund seemed to have control of the situation, but in the final hundred yards Prince Gal loomed up, with an irresistible rush which carried him past Be Mund in the last stride. Chief Hayes, only kept within the course by the outer fence, ran a remarkable race and probably would have won had he not bolted at a critical moment. Huck. a new-coiner in these parts, ran like a good one, his closing challenge being the fastest of all. C C. Smithson of Virginia, owner of .Juggler, which ran third behind High Private and Black Mate in tho mile and a sixteenth selling race, under one bid of ,000 for High Private when lie was offered for sale after winning the race with consummate ease. The champion three-year-old of the last -CattfOnila season Is on the verge of a breakdown and was entered to be sold for ,500. George F. Johnson had paid ,900 for him at the recent dispersal sale of P. A. Forsythes stable. Trainer Blakeley spent considerable time before the race in applying lotions to the big geldings ailing ankles. His preliminary was painfully sore and the stable considered 1 to -1 against High Private a prohibitive price, in view of bis condition. When Mr. Smith-sou hid .!CO for him both Blakeley and Johnson appeared relieved, for they turned away without putting in any protecting bid. High Privates legs look as clean and as unblemished as they did the day lie was foaled and among horsemen he was generally considered a bargain at the price. Witli soft tracks to run over this fall, particularly at Baltimore, the Oddfellow gelding should easily return to his owner his purchase money. Zacatecas, a Montpeiier Stable cast-off, began proceedings with a superior display of speed at five and a half furlongs, which he traversed in 1:07. Bob Smith, the real owner of the Mexican Soncy Lass colt, bought hlih for a trifling sum last July anil lias accomplished wonders with him. At present, Zacatecas is one of the best mud-running two-year-olds in training. Trainer T. J. Healey wanted to give Zacatecas away and tried to dissuade Smith from buying liim. When the latter insisted Healey felt hurt. Smith is of the opinion that Healey lias only one juvenile in his stable that can beat the cast-off and that is Mexoana. The steeplechase was a thriller from start to finish. The reliable! Essex II. finished alone, after his two rank running adversaries. Rising Star and Lynnewood. had run themselves into such a state of exhaustion that they both tumbled over the Liverpool the second time around. It looked like iii bad fall for the two riders. Kelleher and Kcrmnth. Tie latter escaped unhurt, while Kelleher will bo laid up for some time with a fractured collarbone. Rising StHr and Lynnewood were remoiimeil Instable hands and engaged in a rattling duel of three-quarters of a mile for second money, which went to the former. Lynnowoods rider weighed about 170 pounds and this operated against the favorite. Queen Marguerite. St. Joseph and Summer Night furnished an interesting struggle over the mile and an eighth route. St. Joseph, now at the top of bis form, was an inadequately ridden horse and should have won. S. I. Hyman daiiiM General MncGregor out of the first race for 70. . Several of the big layers were not operating today. George Rose being a conspicuous absentee. Maskette was given a speed trial of half a mile in forty-seven seconds at Sheepsheail Ray this morir-ing in preparation for the Oriental Handicap next Saturday. Grasinere is in training for the Prospect Handicap at Gravesend and the Nursery Handicap and Champagne Stakes at Belmont.
