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COSTLY IMPORTATION • Strolling Player Makes First Appearance in American Race. • Creates Good Impression Though Beaten By Jock — Double Victory for E. B. McLean. » HAVRE DE GRACE, Md., April 18.— Strolling Player, the half-brother to the Epsom Derby winner Call Boy that Adm. Cary T. Grayson imported from England last fall at a cost of 0,000, made his first appearance in this country in the running of the Congressional Handicap at Havre de Grace this afternoon and, although beaten, ■tamped himself as a real good colt. Ridden by G. Fields and coming from last place at the top of the home stretch, Strolling Player was beaten by a scant length and a half by Edward B. McLeans Jock. There were five starters, with Sir Harry and Gaffsman coupled as the Seagram Stable entry. Jock was an odds-on favorite and there was strong support for the English colt. Starter Milton sent them away to a moving start, with Jock quickest to begin. Strolling Player started with his head in the air and his ears pinned back. He acted green and kept jumping and unable to get settled in his stride. Fields did not hurry him any and he followed his rivals in the run to the turn. In the meantime Jock was out in front setting a fast pace. Gaffsman was second and the light-weighted Banton third. They raced in this order all down the back stretch. Rounding the far turn, Sir Harry moved up with a bold challenge and in the next eighth retired as quickly. In the meantime Fields was sitting still on Strolling Player and as they swung into the home stretch he came to the extreme outside of his opponents. SHOWS DAZZLING SPEED. Strolling Player was now settled in his stride and Fields then shook him up a bit. The manner in which the colt responded was simply astounding. He was fairly flying during the last eighth and passing horses as though they were tied. Jock had too much of a commanding lead to overcome, however, but had the distance been a sixteenth farther there it no question as to which of the pair would have won. Strolling Player evidently is a colt of moods and one that will not stand for any driving in the early stages. Gaffsman and Sir Harry were evidently a bit short, for they tired. It was a large gathering that turned out to witness what was easily the best offering of the meeting to date. The Edward Beal McLean stable carried off the honors of the day, trainer Schorr saddling two winners for the Washington publisher-sportsman in Portia and Jock. Mr. McLean and a party of friends made the trip over from Washington to witness the running of Portia and Jock and was much elated with their victories. A big band of two-year-olds went to the post in the opening race and George D. Wid-ener furnished the winner in Curdle, a good-looking filly by Rire aux Larmes — Milky Way II. Curdle showed a good, game performance, coming from a long way back and closing with a rush on the extreme outside through the home stretch, got up in the final strides to beat Hal Price Headleys Maidens Tryst by a head. Then came the Nevada Stock Farms Chicleight another length away and a neck In front of Clyde Phillips Sport. The Harry Payne Whitney Stable furnished the favorite in the highly touted The Blonde, a handsome upstanding daughter of Mud Hatter. Incidentally it was the first of the get of this sire to face the barrier. LUCKILY ESCAPES INJURY. Admiral Graysons Jubilee had a large following on the strength of some sensational trials at Pimlico. When Steve ODonnell mounted Jubilee in the paddock the filly reared up and. throwing her rider, fell over backwards. It was feared that the filly had injured herself, but the track veterinarian pronounced her unharmed and she went to the post. When the break came Jubilee left the barrier like a shot and soon had an advantage of a length. They had gone but an eighth when the leaders bunched up and Chicleight went around on the outside with a rush and, entering the home stretch, looked to have her rivals beaten. When the real test came she tired and the finish found her exhausted. The Blonde, off in the middle of the bunch, was shuffled about and had no opportunity of showing her merit. Rejuvenation and Chairman were withdrawn from the sixth race, leaving five to go. The Seagram Stable furnished the favorite in Wandering Minstrel, and V. Kaiser the winner in Maxiva. The Canadians were quite confident that Wandering Minstrel would win and the colt found strong support. He flattered his backers in the early running by taking the lead on the back stretch and drawing away. Steinhart had the Sea-tram Stable horse in hand and Craigmyle was coasting in behind him. After passing Coutiuued on twelfth page. COSTLY IMPORTATION Continued from first page.1 the half mile post Craigmyle sent Maxiva up with a rush and passed Wandering Minstrel as though he were tied and, entering the home stretch, had a two lengths lead. At the finish Maxiva was in hand a length and a quarter in front of the Wildrose Farm Stables George De Mar. H. G. Bedwells La Morte followed, beaten a dozen lengths for second place. Wandering Minstrel managed to beat but one horse. Memory. He was a length in front of the latter. A rousing finish came with the running of the second race in which Edward Beal McLeans Portia beat E. K. Brysons Angry Mood by the smallest of margins. It was clearly a case of a jockey being responsible for Portias victory. Pascuma got the McLean filly off forwardly and went to the front in the first eighth. She carried Shakit-up along at a rapid pace and drew away when entering the home stretch. In the stretch run Pascuma went to a drive. Portia hung on with great courage and just managed to last long enough. The consistent old racer Harlan proved best of the band of cheap platers that went to the post in the third race for which Fen-light was made favorite. There was a lot of contention throughout, and in the early running Highwayman and Fenlight alternated in making the pace. Harlan was always close up and, rounding the turn into the home stretch, Robertson sent the latter to the front. When Harlan assumed the lead he kept it and drew away in the last eighth. Fenlight collapsed when Landolt went to a drive, and Atomin also raced under punishment. Another stirring finish came with the running of the Amazon Purse when H. O. Bed-wells Senator Norris beat the Seagram Stables Arno by a nose.
