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STROLLING PLAYER BY A NOSE * English-Bred Kentucky Derby Hope Wins Chesapeake Preliminary—Defeats Toro in a Sensational and Hard Fought Finish ♦ HAVRE DE GRACE, Md., April 27.— Strolling Player, the Grand Parade colt which Admiral Cary T. Grayson purchased in England last fall, won for the Washington sportsman this afternoon when he beat Edward B. McLeans Toro by a nose in the running of the Chesapeake Preliminary Purse. The Chesapeake was provided as a feature by secretary McLennan, and it brought some good three-year-olds to the post. A. C. Schwartz Sortie and the Seagram pair, Solace and Eugene S., were making their first start of the season. Sortie is one of the colts well fancied in the Kentucky Derby. If there was any doubt as to Strolling Player being game k was dispelled today. The imported colt set a fast pace, stood off determined opposition from 3olace and Sortie in the early stages and then fought it out with Toro all the last quarter. Solace and Strolling Player raced like a team from the start to the top of the home stretch, and when the Seagram Stable colt tired Toro moved up with a bold challenge. Strolling Player lost a couple of lengths at the top of the stretch, where he made a wide turn. The first two were under punishment • all the last eighth and both hung on with great courage. Solace was a tiring third, beaten by eight lengths for second place. Sortie was a keen factor for three-quarters, but tired at the end. This colt is not a work horse and the race should help him a lot. The fractional time of the race was :24, :48%, 1:13, l:39ys, 1:44. Eight showers fell all afternoon, but the going was fast until after the running of the fourth race, when it became a bit slower. Despite the unpleasant weather, a large gathering turned out to witness the running of the splendid card provided by the management. The Justa Farm Stables Mud, a first time starter, beat a band of thirteen two-year-olds in the first race when he came from behind in the run through the home stretch to outstay the Linton Farms Nella R. to win going away at the end by a length, followed by the Nevada Stock Farm Stables Virado. The latter, a rapid beginner, started out with a rush and, drawing away, set the pace until well inside the final eighth before he began to tire. Peternel put up a desperate finish to no avail, and the end found Virado just able to last long enough to beat the poorly ridden Blandris by a neck for the short end of the purse. Mud began well and was a forward contender from the start, and when Craigmyle went to a drive the son of Madrigalian responded with splendid courage. Blandris was on the inside and apparently racing in hand. He was able to get through in the stretch run, and with a clear passage there Is no question but that he would have been a more dangerous factor. The Sun Briar horse Sunsard scored his second straight victory for his new owner, J. McGee. when he galloped home in front of The Heathen in the second race. Robertson rode the winner with excellent judgment. When Stevens moved up with The Heathen in the run down the back stretch, Robertson took Sunsard under slight restraint and nursed the latter along, waiting until straightened out in the home stretch before making his effort. The result was that when Sunsard made his challenge The Heathen had nothing in reserve and the finish found Sunsard drawing away to win at the end by a length. Twelve lengths back of The Heathen followed Body Guard, which in turn beat Red Sublette half a length. The winner ran the three-quarters in 1:11%, the first quarter in :23 and the half in :46%. Continued on twentieth page. 1 , ; • ■ J - 2 s B 1 " e - h e - STROLLING PLAYER BY NOSE Continued from first page. Another son of Sun Briar won when W. S. Kilmers Sun Roman defeated a band of maidens, in the third race, a dash of a mile and seventy yards, for which he was an even money choice. Sun Roman did not win In the easy fashion expected of him, Craigmyle being forced to a drive desperately in the last eighth to get the Kilmer colt up in the last twenty yards to beat Sweepesta by a scant half length. In the early running Arcade went to the front and led into the home stretch, where Sweepesta moved up and passed him. Sun Roman, which had been following the leaders next to the inside rail, waa taken wide at the turn for home and, under punishment, responded with a game effort. Samuel Ross Club was third, beaten half and dozen lengths for second place and a half a length in front of Walter J. Salmons Charle- magne. Arcade tired badly when the pinch came.
