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HODGE STARTS AT HAVANA . . Famous Did Handicap Horse Runs Well After Long Let-Up.v ; -: " Sirocco Wins Panama Handicap Blue Wrack Makes It Two Straight. . HAVANA. Cuba. February IS. Kay Spences Hodge made his first appearance at Oriental Park this afternoon in the Panama. Handicap, and considering his long lay-off he made an excellent showing, running close up with some good sprinters over the five and a half furlongs distance. The race today was in the nature of a public trial for the Independence Handicap, which will lie run on Monday next, in which Orestes and Deckmate are also engaged. Hodge, which carried top weight, gave sixteen pounds to E. L. Fitzgeralds Sirocco, the winner, which was making his second start here. Hamilton A. cut out the running. witl Tippler a neck back. This pafsef if hot pace three lengths ahead of, jSirdi-co. Entering .the homestretch Hodge was close up. and Sirrocco, going to the outside, came like a whirlwind hud was leading at the sixteenth post, winning going aw- by two lengths from Tippler, which was half a length ahead of Hamilton A. Hodge was beaten for third place by three lengths and appeared to be pulled up at the finish, but showed no signs of lameness. George W. Lofts horses, including Deckmate. winner of the President Menocal H.vndleap, will be sold at auction on Saturday. Trainer Max Hirsch is returning to the States.. ,4t Representatives from .the stable ojr Senor A. n. Diaz finished firsthand -thin! In the- two-year-old race that began the days sport, nine Wrack leading all- the way and winning easily, while GRiysslan landed in third place after a slow start. It was Rlue Wracks second appearance under colors, and today he confirmed the good impression he made on the occasion of his initial start when he won in convincing style. Jake Holtuiau "-scored another victory today when Primj;ro was returned jiui entsy winner of the second race, in which fasci luting was tlt- decided choice of the sjieculating public. A long shot :iu the Williams Rros, filly Grace accounted for -the third, a "flash of five and a halt furlongs for maiden: three-year-olds. Howard rode the winner, and taking her to. the front with the rise of the birried.niadi,?very post a winning one, and when Dione "challenged in the stretch Grace gamely and successfully resisted the best efforts of the Polk representative.
