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WINS GRAB BAG HANDICAP 1 Smoke Screen Vindicates His Kentucky Form by His Victory. Naturalist Runs Another Fast Mile , Under Heavy Weight Captain Hershler First. i SARATOGA, N. Y., August 18. Gifford A. Cochrans Smoke Screen, held in high favor last spring while racing in Kentucky, made an auspicious eastern debut this afternoon by accounting for the Grab Bag Handicap, having a net value to the winner of ,150. General J. M. Gomez, favorite, landed in second place and Knobbie finished third. Eleven of the original twenty carded to start made the contest. The Cuban owned colt was probably best in the race and iiis supporters have justification for excusing his defeat. It was entirely due to Hildnrs action in forcing him to come wide on the stretch turn. Hildur was the leader at this stage, with General J. M. Gomez in his wake, but 011 the outside. Hildur liegan swerving out when entering the stretch and General J. M. Gomez, "not being able to avoid him, was forced almost to the outer rail and impeded. Meantime Smoke Screen, which had moved up steadily from a slow beginning, managed to save ground when the others came wide and, finishing fast and gamely, had th race won before General J. M. Gomez could overcome liis interference. General J. M. Gomez finished fast, but could not overhaul Smoke Screen. Knobbie, also by virtue of the ground he saved on the stretch turn, was enabled to bind in.JhirjLphice llliy- Jtinniiig of" the- T;rsib ting Handicap- was responsible for an immense midweek attendance despite probabilities of a downpour, the sky being heavily obscured with threatening clouds. Surrounding the feature were five races. In some of the dashes were horses of the better grade. The mile handicap was particularly of interest, due to the presence of Naturalist and Mad Hatter. This pair were responsible for only six of the original fifteen carded ones going to the post. Calculations that Naturalist and Mad Hatter would have the race between them was justified for they finished first and second, with the Widener representative leading the Hildreth crack all the way. A good distance off but running gamely after having closed an immense gap came Iwin, heading the others in third place. Naturalist displayed all his old-time speed and was away from the post like a shot, while Mad Hatter began blunderingly and had to race wide. He finished well, but ran below his .connections expectations. There were only four starters in the steeplechase and three finished. Jay Bird coming to grief. Infidel II., an outstanding favorite, had little difficulty in winning from Vigilante, with Rhomb third. CAPT. HERSHLER S SPECTACULAR VICTORY. The introductory struggle brought witli it a spectacular finish, with Capt. Hershler triumphing in the last stride over Afternoon, Mile. Vivian taking third place. Pontypridd was the favorite here, but a faulty beginning coupled with some interference she suffered from eliminated her from serious contention. The maiden jockey race, fiftli on the card, was also productive of a spirited finish. Liola, backed extensively and ridden by Lancaster, just managed to beat Fizer, with Porte Drapeau in third place. The Harry Payne Whitney stable uncovered another promising youngster in Dartmoor, a son of AVliisk Broom II. Pankliurst, which beat a band of maidens starting in the closing dash. It was Dartmoors initial start under colors, and he raced impressively and likewise showed gameness in standing a hard drive to beat Grey Lag and Ber-nioiit. Fizer was claimed from the fifth race by Lewis Garth for ,300. Arrangements were completed this morning by trainer James Rowe to send a division of the Harry Payne Whitney horses to Havre de Grace to be raced there in charge or S. A. Clopton. The main Whitney string will be campaigned at Belmont Park, in charge of Mr. Rowe. Mose Goldblatt and Bobby Bowers were among the visitors this afternoon, having motored here from Cincinnati. The twb-year-old Trap Shot has been turned ovur to K. D. Springer to be trained. Former jockey Sedar, who rode for W. H. Fizer fiteen years ago and who is now in a profitable mercantile business in Binghnmton, N. Y., was among the visitors. J. W. Healey bought at private terms Free State from Lloyd Gentry, nnd will make a steeplechaser of him. Healey also bought Oceana from J. T. Collins. Messrs. H. K. Knapp, F. Hitchcock and J. E. Widener. comprising the license committee of The Jockey Club, held a meeting in the clubhouse and among other matters that came up for their con- j sideration was the application of jockey Knapp for j a license to ride. I Kay Spence will ship the horses lie has here . back to Lexington on Saturday. I Schwartz Bros, intend an extensive racing campaign in the fall on Kentucky tracks and their horses will be shipped to Latonia for the meeting there. The victory of Smoke Screen in the Grab Bag Handicap is fresh evidence that horses of good quality can be bred In New York State. Mr. Cochrans stud is located at Mount Kisco in West-1 1 Chester County. Smoke Screen is not only a fine individual, but he is richly bred, his dam. Veil, Turica, by ilamhurg, is the dam of Maskette, winner of the Futurity and other good races; also 11 successful matron in the stud of the late W. K. Vanderbilt in France. The third dam, Berrledale, by Donovan, was the dam of Inflexible. Mr, Cochran was warmly congratulated by his numerous friends on his colts victory. Jockey Brady was thrown heavily when Jay Blril fell, but escaped with a shaking up. After their, visit to AVindsor to witness Sir Barton and Boniface race Saturday, Commander J. K. L. Ross and H. G. Bedwell will go to the Ross stock farm near Laurel, Md., for a brief visit.
