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ASCOT STABLE IN LIMELIGHT ♦ Scores Double Victory with Firo Watch and Bramabiau. ♦ The Heathen Fails to Negotiate Muddy Footing at Thornrliffe Park and Disappoints Backers. • TORONTO. Ont, May 28.— The Ascot Stable was very much in the limelight; at Thorncliffe Park this afternoon, when the Brooklyn establishment sent two winners to the post. Fire Watch, with J. Maiben in the saddle, was winner of the third race and Bramabiau, a French-bred son of Bridaine, came back in the running of the afternoons feature race, the Don Valley Handicap, to score an easy victor;- over a field of the best sprinters on the grounds. There were five starters In the Don Valley Handicap, in which The Heathen was asked to concede lumps of weight to his opponents. When rain came during the night and made the footing muddy, trainer W. Irvine was a bit doubtful of The Heathens ability to negotiate it successfully and tried to withdraw his entry and failed. The Heathen attracted strong support nevertheless and went to the post favorite. In the early stages The Heathen was in close pursuit of General Bullard but in the final eighth they both quit. Phillips, who rode Bramabiau, waited until straightened out for the final drive before making his effort. When he did, the Ascot Stable racer moved up with a rush and was soon in front with a three lengths lead. At the finish he was going fast and increasing his advantage and finally won by four lengths. Mud was second, a length and a half in front of The Heathen. Lady Marie was handicapped by the going and was far back most of the race. ADDITIONAL ATTRACTION. The Guineas Purse was provided as an additional attraction and Mrs. B. McEachren furnished the winner in Strongheart. Ridden by J. Maiben and coming from behind in the stretch, Strongheart finished with a great stretch rush to get up in the final strides »o win by a head from William T. There were seven starters and William T. was always an odds-on favorite. P. McGinnis had the mount and he made the mistake of laying too close up in the early stages. Humanist was the one to set the pace, with William T. in close pursuit. He led until after passing the half mile post On the far turn McGinnis sent William T. to the front and opened up a lead of a length and a half. In the meantime Maiben had been rating Strong-heart along under restraint last but one, until well around the far turn. Then he began moving up and when he challenged in the final eighth he caught William T. tiring. In his best races in Maryland this spring William T. came from behind. He was always reserved in the early stages and was a great stretch runner. Six lengths back of the leaders finished Grier of Spain. Kilting carried the silks of the Seagram Stable to a well earned victory in the initial race of the afternoon, over three-quarters, for maidens of Canadian parentage, when she crossed the winning mark leading the favorite Sabana by a length and a half, while third money went to Bright Orb, one of the outsiders in the field of twelve. Kilting, In the early racing, was well back of the others, but, on leaving the back stretch, moved past her opponents with excellent speed and, catching the tiring leaders at the final eighth post, began drawing clear near the finish. Sabana held on determinedly to take second place, while Bright Orb just succeeded in taking the measure of Son of Harmony. The winner was second choice in the wagering. STIRRING FINISH. A stirring finish came with the running of the second race when Cliftons Maid and Eleusagon fought it out all through the home stretch and in the final drive the former i proved the gamer and won by a head. Cliftons Maiden began quickly and in the early running drew away into a lead of two lengths. At the top of the home stretch the leader went wide and Eleusagon, slipping • through next to the rail, moved up with a I rush. Inside the eighth post Eleusagon headed Cliftons Maid, only to tire in the last . fifty yards. Campfire Maid was third, beaten I off six lengths for second place. I A shift in riders brought an improvement . in the running of Fire Watch. Steinhart was . taken down and J. Maiben substituted. The latter rode the Ascot plater with good judgment. In the early stages he took back of , the leaders and waited until well around I the far turn before making his effort. The I result was that when called on in the stretch. Fire Watch had a bit in reserve, while . Pondy, the pacemaker, was all in. In the . final eighth Fire Watch gained fast, assumed . command and at the end won going away by three lengths. Pondy had to stand a long hard drive to stall off a challenge from The Detective to beat the latter half a length for second place. The Seagram Stable made it a double when ■ Pandora came back after Kitlings victory i in the opening dash to win the sixth race. - Pandora, ridden by P. Goodwin, rated off t the leaders to the stretch turn when she - moved up fast and in the final drive out-, gamed Sergeant Major to win by three-quar- ■ tc-rs of a length. Hoi Polloi was third, beaten i off three lengths for second place, and was - on the outside of the pacemakers all the way i and lost ground entering the stretch, where ; she was taken wide.
