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MISSTEP HANDSOMELY « Qualifies as Most Formidable Kentucky Derby Candidate. Scores Impressively in Prospect Purse in Fast Time — Dodgson Finishes Third. ♦ LOUISVILLE, Ky.. May 9.— The Prospect Purse, at seven-eighths mile, bringing together Kentucky Derby eligibles, proved an outstanding magnet that drew an immense attendance to Churchill Downs this afternoon. Chief interest in the race centered about Misstep and Dodgson, both the colts have been in the public mind for some time and their initial clash of the year, even though it was in an overnight purse, was the signal for a display of partisanship in sentiment backed by good dollars. Misstep had his stablemate Mop-Up as a running mate in the race, but he might just as well have remained in his stable for all the figure he cut in the race. Weight of support finally installed Misstep the favored one, but Dodgson did not lack for supporters. The Misstep followers triumphed. This colt won by a neck from Lawley. with Dodgson a good ten lengths in the wake of the pair, just managing to get up in time for third place to beat the Bloomfield stabes Blackwood. The seven-eighths mile was negotiated in 1 :24%, which is one and three-fifths seconds slower than the track record made by Distinction. W. GARNER BIG FACTOR. Jockey W. Garner had much to do with Missteps success. He maneuvered at the post with the result that when the barrier was released he was in full stride, whereas Lauscher. on Dodgson, was caught napping and the Everglade colt was away tardily. Misstep, from his early advantage, gained prominence at once, but Garner elected to restrain him directly in the wake of Lawley, which had moved into command. Those closest, following the pair, were compactly grouped and the Bloomfield pair of starters suffered by a lack of racing room and they moved with shortened strides and had to be taken back on occasions. Dodgson was clear, but forced wide, and Lauscher did not seem capable of making the colt extend himself. Lawley and Misstep continued in th van approaching the stretch, with Blackwood in third place and his stablemate following. Dodgson was moving up, but again lost ground by a wide turn into the stretch. The final eighth found Lawley giving away, and Misstep passed him to continue in command and win by half a length. Lawley was easily second and Dodgson. coming gamely in the last eighth, succeeded in getting up in the last strides for third place. There was little discussion after the race relative to the merits of Misstep and Dodgson. Results seem to have clarifie J ♦*• i situation. Dodgson was soundly beaten. Misstep clearly showing superiority over him at the distance the colts raced today. Seven-eighths is some ways off from a mile and a quarter, and it must be admitted that Dodgson finished strong. Misstep, however, could have continued on, but how much farther is problematic. Shrewd observers opine that he will not stay the mile and a quarter at anything like top speed. His admirers, however, continue sanguinely satisfied in the colts success in his three-year-old debut, and to those who express the opinion that he will not stay, they reply : "Watch him Derby Day!" There was another victory for E. P. Waggoner when Prince Pat, running coupled with War Time, was winner of the opening race. He scored in a driving finish with Captain J. S. and London Rock. Captain J. S. set the pace to the final sixteenth and, while he held on gamely, the winners final rush was just a bit too much for him. He lost by a neck. Amy Vale and Christie Flanagan, which displayed speed from the start, had their chances ruined when the former bolted on the stretch turn and carried the latter far out in the track. TWO FOR KAY SVEXCE. Drone, racing in the colors of Kay Spence, proved best in the field of ordinary platers which started together over one mile and a sixteenth. He won by two lengths from Grand King, with Geo. Groom a close third. Kern brought the winner from behind Grand King, and Geo. Groom, in the stretch after the trio, had raced almost head and head for a quarter of a mile around the stretch turn. The winner was an outsider. Spence saddled his second winner when the Audley Farms Easter Stockings took into camp a small band of three-year-old fillies and mares in the three-quarters third race. Rejoice was second, and Canberra third, the latter suffering extensively from the poor riding she received under W. Garner. Soon after the start, as the winner was challenging Rejoice for the lead, Canberra was taken completely out of the real running and, while she gained ground in the final three-eighths, was never a serious menace for the winner and Rejoice. The latter was succeeded in Continued on twenty -fourth page. MISSTEP HANDSOMELY Continued from first page. the lead by the winner after the firut quarter and, while she raced gamely, Easter Stockings held her safe to win by a length and a half. The winner had exceedingly confident backing. She was making her first start of the year. Port Harlem, which races for Martin Finn, was returned victorious over Thundercall, Florinassa and nine other two-year-olds starting under selling conditions in the fourth race. The winner led almost the entire way and had four lengths margin when she reached the finish. Florinassa, which appeared sore going to the post, raced forwardly from the start, but was beaten by a head for second. This distance, however, might have been increased by Thundercall had he not failed to swerve repeatedly in the stretch run. Well Turned, which had strong backing, raced a good distance back of the leaders throughout. Lucky Hit, another Derby eligible that has been a consistent winner in his former starts and had attracted to himself a Derby following, went down to defeat in the sixth race, which brought a field of thirteen to the post and included a number of three-year-olds. Jockey W. Bowden was suspended for three days by the starter for disobedience while at the post on Marshall Seth in the fourth race Tuesday. The stewards took cognizance of Harry Grays rough riding astride Loretta Brooks, winner of the third race Tuesday, and suspended him for ten days.
