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EVENING ROMPS TO VICTORY IN FLORIDA DERBY -- a Filly Under Restraint Throughout Hialeah Parks Closing Feature Lucky Tom Finishes Last of Seven Starters Evening Runs One Mile and an Eighth Within Fifth of Second of Track Record Records Equalled MIAMI, Fla., Feb. 27. Evening, the swift running daughter of St. James and Crepus-cule, which races for George D. Widener, conclusively proved herself queen of winter racing when she was an easy winner of the fifth running of the Florida Derby, the last . day feature of the Miami Jockey Club at beautiful Hialeah Park. To the wild applause of the greatest crowd that ever assembled on the course, this brilliant miss galloped off with the prize, which had a net value of ,725 to the winner. It was a complete turning back of J. J. Robinsons invasion from New Orleans with Lucky Tom and Renaissance, when the main dependence, Lucky Tom, finished last of the seven that started. Second J place fell to R. M. Eastmans Cathop, the half brother to Mike Hall, while G. W. Ogles Trombone, rated as a plater, put up a stern battle for that portion of the purse. Well back of him came Bay Angon, Renaissance, Sansarica and Lucky Tom in the order named. Never was there a more brilliant conclusion of any race meeting, and the park was at its best, while the course had dried out until the going was fast long before the Derby field was called to the post. An added bit of color to the lakes in the infield was a considerable number of Seminole Indians in their bright garb, and several of them lazily poled dugouts about the islands. Long before the horses were called out for the first race, the stands were crowded. There came a new activity in the wagering that surely set a new record for the season, though the exact figures could not be obtained at the time of this writing. When the field was called to the post for the Derby, run as the fifth race, Lucky Tom was on his bad behavior and, doubtless, his lunging about under his weight of 126 pounds, had something to do with his performance for there was no time that he was anywhere close to contention. His unruly actions resulted in his being sent to the outside of the. stalls, but he was away well and it was an utter lack of speed that prevented his being more prominent. Leischman lost no time sending Evening into the lead, and when he had the daughter of St. James swinging along in front, he took hold of her head, and she simply breezed along to open up a length lead in the first half and make it a still greater lead when she raced six furlongs in 1:11. Renaissance was the one that attempted to go with the Widener filly, and for a time he was in close attendance, but it was soon evident she could shake him off any time, as she did at the end of the first half. CATHOP SECOND. Cathop was caught in close quarters going to the first turn, and Garner was forced to take him up somewhat to avoid an accident. The colt was soon back in stride, and Garner was content to rate him along back of the fast pace. Both Bay Angon and Trom-, bone had the Eastman colt headed, but this did not give Garner any concern, and it was not until swinging out of the back stretch that he asked the son of Supremus to run. He soon disposed of Bay Angon and Renaissance, but Trombone was displaying altogether new form and was racing along strongly. Evening was five lengths clear and racing well within herself, so that it narrowed down to a battle for second place honors. Never changing stride and under a slight restraint, the filly toyed with the others in the stretch to be past the line the winner by five lengths. Back of her Cathop and Trombone were fighting it out stride for stride; and it was Cathop that earned second place by a head. Evening had run the mile and a furlong in 1:50, but the ease of the victory demonstrated that she could have lowered the track record. Two other track records were equalled during the day when Roan Antelope raced a mile and a quarter in 2:03, and Helios ran three furlongs in :34 to win the juvenile race. J. O. Keenes Don Romiro, making his first start since last May at Churchill Downs, was winner of the opening five and Continued on thirtieth page.. EVENING WINS FLORIDA DERBY Continued from first page. a half furlongs dash when he outgamed C. A. Grandes Morden in a stretch drive. Well back of them P. J. Whites Norwalk was the one to save third. It really was a two-horse race, for Morden and Don Romiro at once drew away into the lead and they raced lapped through the back stretch, but going to the stretch turn Morden drew away, but in the final furlong quit badly to see Don Romiro the winner by a neck. Norwalk had raced third virtually all the way, but he was five lengths back of the first two. Joe Edwards Polygamous was in a running mood in the second race and, taking the lead at the start, was never headed. T. Sullivans Scot Free making his first start since the November meeting at Bowie, closed a big gap to take second place and third was the portion of F. A. Carreauds Knowlton. It was" Knowlton that chased after the winner all the way and for the early racing My Sis was in third place, while Stevens took Scot Free back until he was last of the seven that- raced as they went through the "back stretch. Tea Cracker was in conten- tion and Playbill showed a bit of speed. 4 Polygamous swung into the stretch with a I safe lead and it was there Stevens found his way through on the inside with Scot Free t j and he outfinished Knowlton, though he was J still a length back of Polygamous at the end. J? Tea Cracker was a distant fourth, being s seven lengths back of Knowlton. p There was a rare thrill in the third when t George Fields, by a masterly ride, landed and J. M. Phillips Roan Antelope winner by a matter of inches over H. Wells Silvery, ridden by Hank Mills. Right at the end the veteran outrode little Mills to earn the decision. It was generally considered as a bit far for the son of Man o War, but he equalled the track record of 2:03 and he paid 3.50 for each two-dollar investment. Ten lengths back of the battling pair came J. C. Fletchers Fair Bill, which had been badly outrun to the stretch. Fields went out to show the way with Roan Antelope from the rise of the barrier and, nursing his mount along, saved ground all the way and, in a rousing finish, got him past the line winner by a nose. Silvery was rated along by Mills back of the winner to the I head of the stretch and, when called on, she finished gamely, but Roan Antelope had stuck it out largely because of the ride of Fields.
