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GOLD STEP GALLANTLY % Consistent Moore Racer Takes Grand Trunk Railway Handicap. 1 Aurora Track in Worst Condition Since Meeting Opening — Jockey Pendergrass Rides Well. ♦ AURORA, 111., May 13.— Shouldering his J.17 pounds in gallant fashion, Gold Step, from the stable of C. W. Moore, led all the Tray to win the Grand Trunk Railway Handicap, best attraction of an ordinary card fit Exposition Park today. It was the third time that the colt had finished first during the meeting, but it was only his second purse, as he was disqualified on one occasion. The smallest field of the meeting went postward, only four facing the barrier and Portmanteau finished second, two lengths back of the winner, while Beton was third and Celtic Prince a distant fourth. Portmanteau was closest to the leader at all Stages, while Beton held down third place throughout. Jockey A. Pendergrass was S.stride the winner and scored his second success of the day. Gold Step was an odds-On choice. The racing strip this afternoon was the most difficult of the meeting to negotiate And, as a result, there were numerous scratches. The course was heavy and holding, but the sun which peeped through the ilouds at intervals gave promise of better ■weather. The crowd showed an increase over yesterday. SECOND OF MEETING. Meridianese, ridden by jockey A. Richard, Scored her second victory of the meeting when she got home in advance of the small band that started over the difficult track * In the opener. Scratches in the event reduced the large field to six, and Take Off Was favored. The latter set the pace but tired in the stretch and was passed by both he winner and Maximum, which finished Second. They raced six furlongs, and the time of 1:19% was an indication of the Condition of the course. Major honors in the second race went to American Thunder, the six-year-old mare Which performs for C. S. Stubbs. Close to the leader at all times, she wore down Marshall Seth, the early leader, in the stretch and under punishment finished in front by a length. Hogans Dance was a distant third, with the other four starters far back. Shift came in for considerable play but began slowly and was never a serious factor. Jockey Anton Pendergrass was on the Winner. BELGIUM GRADUATES. Belgium graduated from the maiden ranks at the expense of an ordinary band in the third race. The contest was the first of the four distance events given this afternoon at one mile and seventy yards, and Continued on twenty-first page. GOLD STEP GALLANTLY Continued from first page. the winner led for the entire distance. His margin at the end was a neck, while Bridegroom was a like distance in front of Thistle Dee for second money. The winner was tiring at the finish, and Bridegroom, gaining fast, would have been successful in a few more strides. Belgium was ridden by jockey R. Watson. Classy, an outsider, was an easy victor in the fourth race. The distance was one mile and seventy yards, and the winner, after keeping Saddle Skirts company in the early running, drew out easily when the latter tired. Sam Cole, the favorite, was weakly ridden by jockey H. Berry or he might have been closer. He finished second, and Elmer H. took down third money. Saddle Skirts quit badly in the run home. Classy paid 0.14. Transgression, which met with bad racing luck in her last start, escaped interference today and led all the way to be an easy winner of the sixth race. She was never in trouble and scored by four lengths from Masterly, with Englewood third. Bocaratone was made the favorite and disappointed once again, failing to finish in the money, after racing close to the leader for over half the distance. Jockey Fischer rode Transgression, which came in for considerable play in the mutuels.
