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WOOD STAKES WINNER H. P. Whitneys Backbone Victor In New Jamaica Race. ♦ Voltaic Finishes Second, Swope Third — Navigator Triumphs in Colorado Stakes. NEW YORK, N. Y., May 2.— Backbone, the chestnut son of Whisk Broom II. and Stamina, that races for his breeder, H. P. Whitney, was winner of the first running of the Wood Stakes at Jamaica today. This is a race of a mile and seventy yards, for which geldings are not eligible, and it takes the place of the Stuyvesant. It was worth ,600 to the winner and, being for three-year-olds, virtually every starter has been named for the Preakness and the Kentucky-Derby. Robert L. Gerrys Voltaic was the one to race to second place, while H. C. "Bud" Fishers Swope just saved third from the Belair Stud Stables Marconi. For the first Saturday of the Metropolitan Jockey Clubs meeting there was a tremendous crowd on hand. Bright sunshine added to the enjoyment of the day. but there was a decided chill in the wind that blew over the course all afternoon. In addition to the Wood Stakes, the Colorado was also a feature of the day. It is a five-eighths dash for the juveniles and Navigator, from the Greentree Stable, was the winner. There was some delay at the barrier when the starters in the Wood Stakes were called to the post and when it arose James Butlers Bright Steel, one of the bad actors of the company, was left at the post. Chief Uncas, showing a commendable burst of speed, was the one to rush out at the start and he had a good advantage when the first turn was reached. Blue Ridge, Hedgefence and Backbone were in close attendance and Voltaic was also in a good position. Swope had begun just a bit slowly and he was well pocketed before the turn was reached. Marinelli made every use of the speed of Chief Uncas and in the back stretch he drew out to a lead of a couple of lengths and Voltaic worked his way up to second place. Backbone was right after the Gerry colt and Marconi followed, while the others were in fairly close order. CHIEF OCAS RETIRES. It was after racing five-eighths that Chief Uncas showed signs of tiring, and, as Voltaic drew up on him. Parke moved with Backbone, and the three were in close order. Felix was racing fourth and both Coventry and Marconi had a slight lead over Swope. Parke took hold of Backbone going to the stretch turn and then, when straightened for the run home, he called on the son of Whiskbroom II., and he quickly went to the leader. It was not much of a battle and Backbone came on to win going away. Swope was forced to go wide in the stretch to find racing room and he was closing in gallant fashion when he just nosed out .Marconi, and the pair of them were five lengths back of Voltaic. Navigator, the colt that Clyde Phillips developed for the Greentree Stable at New Orleans, was winner of the Colorado Stak s, B live-eighth dash for the juveniles that was worth ,900 to the winner. James Butlers Continued on twentieth pace. WOOD STAKES WINNER Continued from first prise. Turf Light was a fast-going second, while If. P. Whitneys Chicaro beat Bombshell for third. William Daniels Escarra, an added started, was fifth, while George D. Wideners Galetian, a winner at the United Hunts meeting, ran out so badly on the turns that he was pulled up by Sande. The start was a good one and Navigator, beginning well, at once went into the command and was soon four lengths clear with Turf Light showing the way to the Whitney colt. Galetian began to run out at the rise of the barrier and when the turn out of the backstretch was reached, he went to the outer rail and for an instant threatened to crash through it. This put him completely out of the contention and it took all of Sandes strength to pull him up in the stretch. In the meantime Navigator was set ing a merry pace in front and Turf Light hung resolutely to second place. It was in the final eighth that the leader showed signs of tiring and there Turf Light closed with great courage until at the end he was just a stride short of victory. Four lengths further back Chicaro, after having raced in third place all the way, had no trouble earning that part of the prize from Bombshell. Escarra did not impress with his performance and he will have to do much more before his New Orleans estimate will be taken seriously. H. C. Fishers Bobbed Bandit was best of the cheap band that met in the mile and seventy yards of the fifth race and, making all the pace, she was winner from W. J. Boths Golden Age. with W. F. Kearns Contentment beating C. J. Caseys Marjorie C. for third. There was not much to the running after Bobbed Bandit beat the others to the first turn. Golden Age raced forwardly for the first half mile, but Beach was of little assistance. He saved ground in the stretch and came again, but Bobbed Bandit was not ready to quit and, though doing her best at the end, she was safely home. The first race was a five anrd a half furlong dash for fillies and mares of the plater variety and George D. Wideners Balance Sheet outgamed A. W. Kervulas Mixture to be winner with W. J. Boths Julie outlasting "Bud" Fishers Pencraft for third place. The start was a good one and Mixture showed the most speed away from the barrier, but she was soon headed by Julie with Balance Sheet racing in third place, while Kellum appeared unable to have Pencraft under way and she was far back. Mozer rushed Julie at a great pace and she was still showing the way when the stretch was reached but there she showed a disposition to bear out and as Mozer fought to keep her in, Thurber brought Balance Sheet up with a rush and at the same time Mixture came again. The pair of them had Julie beaten an eighth out and then Thurber outrode the inexperienced Catrone to land the Widener filly winner. Rather a bad band of maidens met in the three-quarters of the second race and J. L Hollands Catherine Von Utter proved best, though that is not saying much. At the end she was showing the way to J. Wormsers Cue-Rack and it was John J. Tighes Chief James that was third. There was little to this contest when Catherine Von Utter was good enough to sprint away into a good early lead. She was quitting badly in the stretch but nothing back of her was good enough to catch her. OCora, though he dropped back in the early stages after being away well, can do better. Right at the start Gala Night wheeled and unseated Catrone. *
