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CLOSE FINISHES PREDOMINATE! I ♦ Ancoda Staves Off Final Rush of Bushman in Feature. • Adams Astride Crane Colorbearer — Sir Byron and Lullaby II. Win Their Respective Races. • TORONTO, Ont., June 5.— Though there was no feature down for decision on the Friday program at Long Branch, it was a remarkably good card that was provided with hard fought finishes occurring in most of the contests. Occupying the stellar position was a seven furlongs race which attracted an evenly matched field of three-year-olds, under claiming conditions. Mrs. C. Crane, Detroit sportswoman, supplied the winner in Ancoda, which scored in a drive, with Bushman, from the stable of J. E. Smallman, earning second. Third place fell to Banal Girl, which earned that part of the purse from Marsala. Albert Adams was the successful rider, he kept the winner close up from the start and took the lead when Fast Life, the early leader, began to tire. Adams continued to save ground where possible with the Crane colorbearer, and in the stretch managed to keep him going long enough to score by a neck from the fast finishing Bushman. The latter, after being outrun for the first half mile, showed improved speed thereafter. The son of Wilderness came wide in the stretch, finished determinedly, but was unable to make up the necessary ground. Banal Girl, after racing in the thick of it from the beginning, tired in the late stages, but managed to stave off the challenge of Marsala. A big crowd was on hand, and the track was at its best. Rock Ciest, making his first start and coupled with Santa Crest as the J. P. White entry, got up in the final stride of the five furlongs of the opener to defeat Fitzgold. Third went to the stablemate of the winner. Ridden by J. Gwynne, the winner moved through on the inside on the turn, responded nobly when roused with the whip and succeeded in wearing down the McLaughlin juvenile just as the finish line was reached. Fitzgold drew away into a good lead, held on courageously, but was unable to withstand the rush of the winner. Anoka was the favorite here, but was quickly disposed of by Fitzgold in the first quarter and could never reach serious contention afterwards. Andy Blakely saddled his first winner since shipping to Canada this spring. Lullaby II. was the medium of his triumph when the three-year-old led home eleven other maidens of the same age that raced over six furlongs in the second. The Howe Stable filly, after drawing away into a long ; lead on the far turn, began quitting in the final furlong and Phillips was forced to go to a drive to outlast the final challenge of My Old Rose by a head. The latter came with splendid courage on the outside in the stretch after racing under restraint in the early stages. My Old Rose was taking two strides to the winners one in the last seventy yards and would undoubtedly have won had the distance been a trifle further. March Mystic, after being close up for the ■ entire distance, dropped back, but came 1 again only to falter when looming up as a serious factor. Gilded Casino carried the colors of the : local young sportsman George Hogarth to their first victory of the season when she ! made a show of the seven other Canadian-breds that contested the third race over the : one mile and seventy yards distance. Ridden by Charlie Phillips, who incidentally chalked up a riding double for the afternoon, • having won the previous race while ■ astride Lullaby II. Phillips did not hurry the Hogarth four-year-old during the early running. Gilded Casino began overtaking ! her rivals going to the half post and midway around the far turn went into command. • Once in front, Phillips let the filly race right along and she drew out with every stride ■ until at the finishing line she was four lengths to the good of Milestone, which finished second. The latter cut out the early running, but was no match for the winner in the final drive. Tipsy came with good I energy to be third. Ichitaro was the favorite • here, but broke down badly in the l running. The Wistoria Stables Sir Byron, ridden i by apprentice F. Madeley, accounted for the l fourth race over the seven furlongs distance. • Bedford Boy, racing for William Garth, finished • second, with the show portion of the purse going to Snooty, carrying the silks of • J. Woods Garth. Madeley rated Sir Byron i in close attendance, to the pace set by Altsheib, moved up leaving the back stretch, , took command before reaching the stretch, , and got home without receiving a threatening challenge. Bedford Boy came from far back to race into second place, while Snooty, , much used in keeping up with the leaders i in the first five furlongs, tired in the final 1 furlong. Charlie Ralls put up an exceptionally good I ride on Fair Thorn to have him home in I front in the sixth race, which brought together • seven platers to race one mile and a sixteenth. Ralls permitted Fairdale to » set the early pace, reserving the Bedwell I representative until midway around the turn, , wore the leaders down in the stretch, and 1 easily held Sam Pass safe to the end. Third I went to Fair Bill.
