view raw text
LEE 0. COTNERS TEST 1 Gives Weight and Beating to Best Juveniles at Hawthorne. Runs Three -Quarters in 1:11 After Grand Performance Favorites Fare Poorly. HAWTHORNE RACE TRACK, Aug. 28. Lee O. Cotner, rated in Kentucky last spring as one of the best two-year-olds racing, gave further evidence of his prowess and incidentally stamped himself the best youngster shown here by his sparkling victory in the three-quarter mile handicap that featured the Hawthorne racing this afternoon. Step Along, which finished second, made it possible for Lee O. Cotner to run the six furlongs in the good time of 1:11, by the fast pace he sat during the early part of the race. Golden Lynn, an outsider, shared honors with the winner by landing in third place, after having virtually been left as a result of being pinched back at the start. Lee O. Cotner was at all times the favored one, but Step Along did not lack for "supporters and his backers were jubilant when he went into a good lead immediately after the start and continued to show the way until well along in the stretch, where Lee O. Cotner, fully settled in his stride, came with great courage under a punishing drive and beat Step Along home by over a length. Step Along held on well for second place. Golden Lynn at one time was in last place far out of it, but she moved up with determination and continued gamely to the end. The field virtually embraced every good youngster at the track and Lee O. Cotner conceded weight to all his opponents. AJfOTHER IMMENSE CROWD. Another immense gathering was on hand to view the racing. With the near close of the meeting seems to come added interest in the sport and the final days will possibly find the Hawthorne plant taxed to capacity. The present racing is leaving an impression on the thoroughbred lovers here and instead of the fifty-two day meeting being a longer stretch than would serve to benefit the sport, it seems too short a period. The desirable element .are just beginning to take kindly to Hawthorne. Close finishes featured most of the races but favorites fared poorly, Lee O. Cotner being the lone successful choice, during the afternoon. The overthrow of choices began in the initial race when Raider missed getting up by a small margin to down Wong Bok. Pools vigorous ride coupled with the inactivity on the part of McDermott during the earlier part of the race accounted for Raiders failure. McDermott also might have been responsible for the failure of Alleden in the third race. Alleden was an outstanding choice but gave way to Postillion by less than a head. Had McDermott kept Alleden a bit closer up to Postillion in the earlier stages he might have won. Alleden was going the fastest at the end and would have been the j winner in a few strides more. MUSKALLOIfGE SURPRISES. The second race brought together an ordinary band with Finday and Boot Black most supported, but the erratic Muskallonge, showing one of his best performances, got home in advance of Arrowhead, with Boot Black just beating Finday for third place. Finday was claimed at a cost of ,000 by Milo "Shields. John Lowes Kit surprised in the fifth race by winning handily from Battle Shot, with Taylor Hay in third place. Lierre, Glen-tilt and Sagamook were the choices here and all backed in extensive style, but after figuring prominently for three-quarters they began fading fast in the last eighth. The concluding race found a good band of platers trying conclusions at a mile and seventy yards and it resulted in a spectacular struggle, with Citizen, well ridden, an ultimate winner from Extra Edition, and Vic-toire in third place. It was the third straight victory achieved by Citizen in less than a week. Sakah, which finished in fourth place, might have been a factor at the finish had Francesco been more capable. He had the Loonoy colt all over the track.
