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TOP . FLIGHT SUFFERS . FIRST DEFEAT OF andi HER CAREER a FAILS IN 1932 DEBUT . j C. V. Whitneys Great Filly Unplaced in Wood Memorial. • Universe, Economic and Curacao Finish in Order Named Before Large and Stunned Gathering: NEW YORK, N. Y., April 30.— C. V. Whitneys Top Flight, "future book" favorite for the Kentucky Derby and unbeaten as a juvenile, met her Waterloo in the running of the Wood Memorial Stakes at Jamaica today and there are grave doubts of her being started in the Kentucky classic. The Wood, which has pointed to the winner of the Kentucky Derby in its two last previous runnings, went to T. M. Cassidys Universe, and it was J. H. Louchheims Economic that was well lapped on him at the end of the gruelling mile and a sixteenth. Three lengths back of these the Greentree Stables Curacao was an easy third and Top Flight was fourth and soundly beaten. There was no real excuse for the defeat of the daughter of Dis Done and Flyatit, as far as the running of the race was concerned, and conviction was forced that at this time she does not measure up to the ones that beat her so soundly. The failure of the Whitney filly was a decided shock to one of the largest crowds that ever graced Jamaica, but there was general commendation for the winner, which carried all the pace and raced his company into defeat. Economic was the only one able to give him a serious argument and at the end McAtee plainly had, Something left with the Cassidy colt. A secondary feature of Saturdays afternoon of sport was the Greenfield Claiming Stakes, for juveniles, and it saw the John J. Robinson silks first and second when Eisenberg scored, with Little Lad second. TEX START IN FEATURE. Ten faced the barrier in the Wood and some trouble was experienced in obtaining an alignment. The field went away in good order, except for the fact that Mad Pursuit was in something of a tangle and he had no chance. McAtee had Universe away fast and he was the one to show the way around the first turn, with Economic in attendance. Top Flight, on the turn, was in close quarters for a few strides, but it did not appear to be a handicap of any consequence and when the back stretch was reached she was running along smoothly back of the two colts. Through the back stretch McAtee held to the command with Universe and he had the son of Infinite under slight restraint. He was out a length and a half before Economic, which was also under restraint, and Top Flight followed the Louchheim colt closely. As a matter of fact the brown miss was running so well that it seemed she could go to the leaders at the first asking. Then it was Economic which made a move. Horn shook him up and he came up to Universe readily, until the pair were only a head apart, but it was the Cassidy colt that was still showing the way. Robertson had called on Top Flight, but she tired badly and shortly after the turn out of the back stretch it was apparent she was doomed to defeat. McATEES GOOD RIDE. Faireno had been following the filly in fourth place, but he seemed unable to improve his position, but Curacao, from a slow beginning, was gradually making up ground and had reached fourth place. He was gaining on Top Flight, but in the meantime, Economic challenged Universe and went right along with him, and the pair drew away into a lead of five lengths. From that instant it became a two-horse race. The others all tired in a vain effort to catch the leaders as they swung into the short stretch, with Universe only showing his head in front. Universe had ample left to see him safely home, and under skillful riding by McAtee, he was past the line win-ned.by half a length. ContimiuL aa. twmty-stu. , _ ] , I I TOP FLIGHT DEFEATED Continued from first page. Curacao continued to gain right to the end, and in the final sixteenth galloped past Top Flight to beat her by four lengths for third, but he was three lengths back of Economic. In that final furlong Top Flight stumbled rather badly but it had no bearing on the result and seemed to be by reason of her being dead tired. After the finish "Doc" Cassidy was congratulated on all sides. He was naturally elated over the magnificent showing of his colt, and announced that he would be shipped to Louisville Sunday. The fractions for the race were :23%, :47%, 1:12, 1:38 and 1:43. Through it all the son of Infinite had something left, and he finished the mile and a sixteenth in a fashion to leave no doubt of his complete readiness for the mile and a quarter distance he will be required to run next Saturday. When Eisenberg carried the silks of John J. Robinson to victory in the Greenfield Claiming Stakes, he had won his third race of the meeting. This prize added ,825 to his score. To make it still more of a Robinson triumph, it was Little Lad, a stablemate, that raced to second place. The Robinson pair were far out before David J. Elys Helios, which readily took third from Jack Richardsons Revonah. The same prize went to the Robinson silks last year when Renaissance was the winner. The start was a good one, but when Helios came over sharply from an outside position, St. Christopher, Cresta Run and John Davenport were all shuffled back badly, and it was Dorsays that showed in front for an instant. He soon gave way to Eisenberg, and once the son of Stimulus was showing the way, Richards sent him right along to never be headed. Panetian, which established himself as about the best of winter sprinters in Florida during the winter, carried the silks of C. Leroy King to victory in the second, the Cumberland Claiming Handicap over the six furlongs route. John J. Robinsons Renaissance raced to second place, with Mrs. John H. Whitneys Etcetera saving third from Gold Prize.
