view raw text
SEPARATED BY INCHES Jack Alexander and Banton Stage Most Thrilling Struggle. First Mentioned Victorious in Last Stride Dark Phantoms Overthrow Costly. v. HOMEWOOD, III., June 23. One of the closest finishes of the meeting developed with the running of the Frolic Handicap, the outstanding feature on the Thursday Washington Park racing offering when Jack Alexander and Banton, after staging a strenuous duel, landed inches apart, with Jack Alexander in the van. Minervus finished in third place, close in the wake of the leading pair and slightly in advance of David L. The time, 1:39, marked an extra good performance over the dull course. Seven of the better grade started in this race, with Minervus the favored one, and confidently supported, but Jack Alexander, Banton and David L. also had extensive followings. The speedy Moonraker, with his customary style, moved into the lead, but he was pressed hard by Banton and gave way to. the latter before the lower turn was reached. Jack Alexander made a successful bid for the lead when they reached the stretch turn and at one stage had a lengths advantage, but Ban-ton came again and the pair fought it sharp-lv all during the last, with victory in doubt until the last stride. Minervus began slowly and had to be ridden out to overhaul David" L. for third place. DROP IN" TEMPERATURE. Straw hats and light clothing gave way to overcoats and wraps, the weather having a decided winter tang to it. Considering the cold weather and lack of outstanding features a surprisingly largo crowd was at the course and they- were in a measure repaid by witnessing some close and interesting racing. Favorites began auspiciously when the first three choices won in succession. Then came the overthrow of Dark Phantom and Minervus, and their defeat was costly to the form players. The defeat of Dark Phantom and her failure to get part of the purse was the main disappointment of the afternoon. William Garth had another maiden graduate into the winning ranks when his Mist registered a close victory in the opener, which engaged a dozen youngsters. Mist was up in the final stride of the five-eighths contest to beat home Rhubarb, with Two Dans the same margin in the wake of the pair. Rhubarb had taken a big lead right from the outset with Mist following and Dr. Rankin close up. Rhubarb only began tiring slightly in the last sixteenth and it enabled the others to bunch up and in the final drive that followed Mist was up to get the verdict. Sun Friar was highly rated in the race, but a tangled beginning caused his undoing. J. Lowensteins veteran Brunswick, capably ridden by Earl Pool and an outstanding favorite, was the winner in the second race, for he moved into the lead immediately after the barrier was released and, holding sway under restraint, led throughout, to beat homo Wildrake. with Colonel Schooler in third place. The latter closed an immense gap during the last eighth and was going strong at the end and would have been second in another stride. Myrtle Belle and Monday Morning both showed good performances, but tired in the last sixteenth. APPLECROSS IX FRONT. E. K. Brysons Applecross was the third successive favorite to score. Applecross registered in the mile race, and he won well in hand from Up and Down, with Brumficld in third place. The winner allowed Cimmerian and Levoy to race themselves into exhaustion and came away when he was called on in the stretch to win well in hand. Up and Down came from far back in the last quarter to outstay Brumfield. Thero were several claims in the race, the winner going to O. L. Foster, and Mrs. Frank Far-rar taking Up and Down, the claiming price in each instance being ,700. The fourth race brought about .the outstanding surprise, when Dark Phantom, a pronounced favorite, failed dismally.and was Continued on twenty-fourth pace. SEPARATED BY INCHES Continued from first page unable to secure a portion of the purse, the winner being Mino, carrying the Green Briar colors. He won after a spirited tilt with Lady Marie, with Don Diego in third place. The latter rushed into a good lead, at once attended by Lady Marie and Mino. Dark Phantom was taken back and also suffered some interference soon after the start, which was a perfect one. Don Diego continued in the van until the last sixteenth was reached, where Lady Marie and Mino both passed him and, in the hard drive which followed, Mino was the winner by a matter of inches. Dark Phantom could never get into strong contention and finished in fifth place. The time of the race 1 :06 marked a new track record, displacing the-one held by Clonaslee. William Garth, whose colors were carried to victory in the opener, made it a double for the afternoon, when his Finland registered in easy style in the sixth race, at a mile. He came away in the stretch to win as his rider pleased. Last Cent, racing in improved form and saving much ground for the entire distance, finished in second place, and the favorite, Scotland Forever, headed the others. Scotland Forever was far out of it for half a mile and raced wide thereafter, but finished strong in the last quarter. Coming with a great rush through the stretch after being hopelessly out of It in the first half mile, Dixie Smith was up to take the purse from Be Yourself in the final at a mile and one-eighth. Be Yourself had been one of the strong contenders from the start and, after disposing of The Seer, seemed to have the race won, but could not withstand Dixie Smiths rush in the last sixteenth. Lady Braxted, which had also been far back, came strong in the last eighth to beat noma Paula Shay for third place.
