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HARD-FOUGHTCONTEST i Louisiana Derby Candidates Furnish Interesting Race. Invictus Beats Brilliant Cast and Polvo by Narrow Margin Fredericktown Fails. NEW ORLEANS, La., March 14. Louisiana Derby cligibles -were given their final racing opportunity before contesting on next Monday for the ?la,000 prize, which will feature the windup of the winter racing season in these parts. They met in the third race, at a mile and seventy yards, and furnished a hard-fought contest, but it is unlikely that the winner, Invicturc, which beat Brilliant Cast by a short margin, with Polvo following the pair closely, Avill cut much figure in Mondays rich race. There were nine three-year-olds that faced the starter, but Amity Claim, the only filly to try conclusions with the colts, is not among the nominees in the Derby. Because of his sparkling performance in his preceding start, when he finished a close second to Black Gold, Fredericktown wa3 made favorite and received confident support lie was a big disappointment, however, and failed dismally. His defeat was foreshadowed before the field had raced three-quarters. Wallace had the mount on him and he rushed him into a forward position for the first half mile, but when he was called on he failed to respond and he labored badly all during the stretch. Invictus was hustled to the lead immediately after the start and he continued in the van throughout, but it was a tired racer that succeeded in staggering past the finish in advance of Brilliant Cast. With a more energetic rider on Brilliant Cast he might have beaten Invictus. Polvo, too, might have done better with a better-judged ride. He came from far back in the last quarter and his showing was the most impressive of those taking part this afternoon. With the additional eighth of a mile that the Derby calls for Polvo might have a chance. BLUE OSE I3IPKESSIYELT. While the meeting of the Derby candidates held chief interest in a racing way, the outstanding contest programmed was the fourth race, a mile and a sixteenth dash. It resulted in victory for E. R. Bradleys Blue Nose, but it was only after a heartbreaking effort on his part and in spite of jockey Carroll, who rode him in the most amateurish manner possible. Blue Nose raced as if pounds the best, but Carroll had him in last or next to last place until the stretch was reached where Blue Nose finally began gaining steadily and, though stumbling badly right at a critical period, he succeeded in downing El Astro in the final stride. Parke hustled the latter into a good lead at once and, by careful nursing, kept him in front until the horse was almost exhausted and he gave way in the last few strides. The surprise of the race was Chief Curry, which came like a rocket in the last eighth, but for suffering interference when Colored Boy and Tender Seth began falling back, might have won. The race was a highly spectacular one ; in the last eighth any one of the starters seemingly having a chance to land the purse. Colored Boy was going well when he was jumped on and it eliminated him. O. Henry, the receding faVorite, tired badly in the last seventy yards after having raced prominently. The difficult track that prevailed was responsible for repeated surprises, some of the winners coming from the most unexpected quarters. They came from far back and, continuing strongly in the stretch, got up in the last few strides to down the contenders. FAVORITES IN ECLirSE. With the exception of Blue Nose, backed into favoritism, all the other choices were in eclipse. The upsets inaugurated with the opening race when Neat Girl, entirely neglected, got up in the last strides to overhaul My Biddy, with Mary Dear, favorite, in third place. Honest Mose, one of the expected contenders, was probably best in the race, but, at the start, he lunged, giving him an advantage but for some reason Murphy took him back to last place and it effectively disposed of his winning chance. Little Florence, an outsider, made a spectacular finish and got up in the last stride to down Lieutenant Farrell. The latter would have won handily had his rider not taken him into the deepest going in the last sixteenth. Dan Boiling, the favorite, was never formidable, tliird place going to Stamp. The veteran Sands of Pleasure, was given the call in the mile and a half dash, but after racing half of the way a clcse attendant on the leaders, he broke down and it probably marks the last race he will engage in. His elimination made it easy for Little Ammie to win from Grass Tree, but she had to be hustled to do so. Buddie Kean would have been more formidable if Marinelli had given, him a stronger ride. The concluding race found Trooper the favorite, but the best he could do was to land , j in third place, El Jesmar winning from The Chamberlain. Mock Orange was practically left at the post as a result of being unprepared when the start came. The moderating weather was responsible for a good attendance being on hand to view the sport. There were thirty-five odds-quoters in line and they must have fared excellently by the failure of the five choices and victories of the extreme outsiders.
