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THORNDALE QUALIFIES Proves Likely Candidate for the 5,000 Louisiana Derby. Decisively Triumphs Over His Rivals in Fast Run Race Jockey L. Lang to Fore. NEW ORLEANS, La.. Jan. 29. Benjamin Blocks Thorndale qualified handsomely this afternoon for the 515,000 Louisiana Derby to be run at Jefferson Park by triumphing decisively over five of the best three-year-olds that could be mustered in these parts. He won at a mile, carrying 11C pounds and circled the course in 1 :39, the fastest that the mile distance has been covered in many weeks. He won with consummate ease from Henry M. Dietz, an outsider. King ONeill II. finished third. The latters showing was ordinary and below Derby standard. There were five starters, Thorndale conceding weight to all of them. Deronda, with his light impost, moved at once into the lead accompanied by Polvo, on which Heupel applied the whip in diligent fashion and it roused him to his utmost, but it also left him exhausted before three-quarters of the way had been covered. Deronda, after shaking off Polvo, moved into a good lead, but was challenged simultaneously by Thorndale and King ONeill II. when about to round into the stretch. Both passed him in the next sixteenth, but Thorndale was always master of the situation and drew away decisively. King ONeill II. gave way badly in the last sixteenth and Henry M. Dietz, coming from last place, passed him for second place. THORNDALE STANDS OUT. If any line can be taken from the race, Thorndale stands out over the three-year-olds shown here so far., long-distance racing considered. There are several three-year-olds that have not made their debut for the season. Among them is Black Gold, the sturdy youngster that was rated high last year. Summerlike weather was the order here this afternoon and it contributed to bringing out the full strength of racing enthusiasts to the Fair Grounds. Track conditions were superb. The three-quarters handicap, serving as the secondary feature, furnished the outstanding upset of the afternoon. Translate, recently acquired by I. G. Ruth, won after a sharp drive from the non-staying Moonraker. The latter was an overwhelming favorite and started out as if he would make a runaway race of it, but Translate challenged him stonily in the stretch and the Greentree Stable representative succumbed readily in the last few strides. Bradleys Toney, under a weak ride, finished in third place. RIDES THREE WIXERS. The diminutive apprentice L.. Lang, under contract to James Arthur, displaced Parke in the limelight during the afternoon by riding three of the winners. All his winning mounts were at long odds. He began his success in the second race, bringing together platers of the cheaper variety. He had the mount on Coral Reef and ho beat home Guvnor and Daydue. The latter was favorite in the race and after flattering extensively to the stretch gave way fast Langs next successful mount was Ben-dita, which had for opponents some of the poorest at the track. She led them from the start and beat out under urging the decrepit Kimpalong, which made a game battle. for the purse during the stretch, but failed to wear the winner down by a margin of a length. Duelma, weighted with 84 pounds, was Langs concluding mount. She came fast in tho stretch and caught the tiring leaders to win by a length from High Gear, with Haidee in third place. Georgette was an odds-on favorite in the race, but quit fast after going three-quarters. The opener brought to the post a band of maidens and it resulted in a victory for Exchange, which, showed high speed for tho entire way and won well in hand over Billy Klair and Mcintosh. Royal Purple was backed into favoritism in the race, but the poor start she had, coupled with a bad ride, caused her to be far out of it for the entire way. Favorites had a rough time during the afternoon. Good Niirht, on which Parke had tho mount in the third race, was the only winning choice outside of Thorndale, to score.
