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STING EASILY WINS METROPOLITAN HANDICAP ■ *» • — — — v - ■ James Butlers Record Breaker in Another Sparkling Performance * 1 Champion Sarazen Disappoints His Many Ad mixers by Finishing Far Back — Tremendous Crowd Present for Opening of Belmont Park Spring Meeting * NEW YORK, N. Y.. May 22— James Butlers Sting, the sensational record breaker of the Jamaica meeting, was winner of the Metropolitan Handicap, the big feature of the opening of the twenty days race meeting of the Westchester Racing Association at Belmont Park. The son of Spur and Gnat fairly smothered his company with his electrical speed and at the end he was winner by two lengths from A. C. Bostwicks Shuffle Along and third, lengths farther away, William Daniels recent purchase, Serenader, just beat Joseph E. Davis Reparation a head. And Mrs. Vanderbilts champion, Sarazen, was far back and next to last of the eight that went to the post. It was a brilliant opening of Belmont Park and a tremendous crowd was out for the occasion. The weather was ideal and the track in its best condition, though the recent adding of top soil prevented its being as fast as it has been at other meetings. Wild Aster was the only promised starter in the Metropolitan that was withdrawn and before the running it was generally agreed that the race was strictly between Mr. Butlers greatly improved Sting and the mighty Sarazen. No time was lost at the barrier and fftrjnnrfi Reparation tinn nroo was fii-c-f first ♦ -. to show -l...... out „..± of _* .1 fftrjnnrfi Reparation tinn nroo was fii-c-f first ♦ -. to show -l...... out „..± of _* .1 the company when the barrier arose. Sarazen getting away in second place, but he was down on the inner rail, and when he did not show his usual alertness he was soon caught In close quarters and shuffled back. Serenader was rushed in the early racing and he was showing the way to Mino, with Sun Pal racing third and Sting two lengths farther back, while at the same time Sarazen. pocketed on the rail and with no chance to fully extend himself, was shuffled back until Mind Play was the only horse back of him. Serenader was setting a terrific pace when the first quarter was covered In :22 £, but Just when he was doing his best Sting began to work his way through and the half mile ground was reached in :45%, with Serenader beginning to show signs of weakening. 8ARAZEV8 DEFEAT APPARENT. Sande had pulled Sarazen off the rail In an effort to find his way through, but he ! ran into other difficulties and before the stretch was reached it was apparent that he would not share in any part of the purse. On the stretch turn it was seen that Sting would be the winner. He was moving around 1 Serenader and headed for home. Breuning i took no chances and rode him out smartly, j though he was winner by a couple of lengths. Shuffle Along came with a determined rush to take second place and Serenader, after his early pacemaking just lasted to be third. While many excuses could be offered for Sarazen, none could take anything away from the sterling performance of Mr. Butlers colt and he proved himself worthy of his place among the best of the winners of the famous old handicap. After the running of the Metropolitan, Sande. who rode Sarazen, said that the geld- ing began well enough to come clear and that he did not have any excuse for the reason j that he would not extend himself to get clear when the chance came. He admitted his mount had been in close quarters, but that when he pulled him clear of any possible interference and called on him the horse just would not extend himself. STEEPLECHASE FEATURE. The International Steeplechase Handicap was the companion feature to the Metropolitan and it resulted in a well earned victory for Joseph E. Davis good four-year-old J filly Relentless. Not Much, the top weight and bearing the silks of the Queen City Sta-ible, was a fast going second and William I A. Reads Sans Peche saved third from J. jS. Cosdens Hullseye, with H. P. Whitneys Handsome just a head further back. The only other starter was Joseph E. Wideners Ethereal Blue and she stumbled so badly at the ninth fence while in the lead, that J. Tammaro, her rider, was unseated. While Sans Peche beat the others away, Eseott at once took back while Ethereal Blue and R -letlUaaa went into command. Handsome was in third place and Sans Peche was fourth under a stiff restraint. Bullscye and Not .Much were in the rear, but both galloping strongly and nicely in the end. Swinging into the front field Ethereal Blue swung wide, but she was straightened and was showing the way when headed for the fence. Cheyr.e held Ketontlaaa bach slightly when the pace became fast, but was still in second place and going well. Handsome was showing the way to Sans Peche and the others followed with no change. At the eighth fence Sans Pacha made a stumbling landing. :but Kscott picked him up promptly and It Continued on ilxteentb Das?. METROPOLITAN TO STING Continued from first pace. cost little. Then at the next jump, while still leading and racing strongly. Ethereal Blue overjumped the fence and when she went to her knees Tammaro was shot over her head. This gave Relentless her opportunity and Cheyne roused her slightly while at the same time both Escott on Sans Peche and Ma-honey on Handsome called on their mounts. They gained slightly, but Relentless had plenty in reserve and she readily held her command. She swung into the front field with a couple of lengths to spare, but it was there that "Specs" Crawford called on Not Much and the big imported jumper closed with a rush that threatened disaster to the filly. Cheyne sensed the danger and went to work on Relentless. She swerved slightly at the last fence, but was righted promptly and on the flat she held her lead to be home winner by five lengths, Dut doing her best. Not Much was a couple of lengths before Sans Peche and she was four lengths before Bullseye and Handsome. The first purse of the Belmont Park meeting fell to the Sanford Stock Farm Stable when Samaritan, by a well timed rush through the stretch was up to beat home James Butlers Noon Fire with the Rancocas Stables Silver Fox a close third. From a good start Silver Fox and Noon Fire quickly went out to set the pace and they were closely lapped virtually all the way. while Maiben was waiting back of them with Samaritan. Silver Fox raced inside both and was just showing in front of the Butler sprinter until the turn for home, where Noon Fire showed his head in front, but the grey colt was hanging on with great courage and they were going stride for stride. This took considerable out of both of them and Maiben made his bid with the winner in the final eighth. It was a well judged ride and the son of Grand Parade gradually wore the leaders down until in the closing strides he was on by to win going away. Noon Fire was out to the last ounce to save second place from Silver Fox and Tester was rather a distant fourth with Pepp following him. This race marked the first American appearance of Optimist, the four-year-old son of Tracy La Val and Optima, that races for the Log Cabin Stud. He was outrun all the way, but is a good looking colt and one that is almost sure to improve.
