view raw text
MISS PURAY REPEATS » Wins Gun Powder Purse at Pimlico at Long Odds. » No Stake Feature on Program at Maryland Course — St. Francis Graduates in Steeplechase. ♦ — BALTIMORE, Md., May 4.— With no stake feature listed for Wednesday at the Pimlico course of the Maryland Jockey Club for the third day of its spring term of racing, most interest centered in the decision of the Gun Powder Purse, a four and a half furlongs dash for the better class juveniles, and the Neighbors Purse, devoted exclusively to foals of Maryland parentage, which were the third and fourth events. While no stars appeared in either of these two races, they resulted in excellent contests and kept the rather large attendance in good humor after their journey to the suburban course. The Gun Powder Purse was first of the races to be decided, and there was a surprise when Miss Puray, sporting the silks of the Tranquility Farms, earned her second consecutive triumph by taking the measure of eleven others that opposed her. Ridden by J. Petz and going to the post at liberal odds, the Tranquility colorbearer came from behind to show the way home to E. R. Bradleys Ballygran by a length, while two lengths in back of the Bradley gelding came Ral Parrs Star Porter to beat Marvan, from the Le Mar Stock Farm, by a half length, and Paint Box finished before the well backed choice, Wedding Ring, and six others. BALLYGRAN FINISHES GAMELY. In the Gun Powder Purse, Wedding Ring, Star Porter and Ballygran went out to show the way as they raced closely lapped until reaching the turn for home, while the ultimate winner was racing along in fourth place. Ballygran, when straightened out in the main stretch, was able to go to the front and held to his lead until a sixteenth from the finish, where he was joined by the fast finishing Miss Puray, and at the end the Tranquility filly was steadily drawing clear. Ballygran continued gamely to take second place, and Star Porter barely lasted to withstand the fast traveling Marvan, which was going much the strongest of all at the end and with better racing luck would surely have earned a part of the purse. Fifteen maiden jumpers furnished the contention in the Linstead Steeplechase, which was second on the program, and it saw Mrs. T. W. Durants St. Francis graduating from the maiden ranks when he completed the thirteen jumps to reach the end of the route leading Shylock, from the J. P. Jones stable, with Mrs. R. V. McKims Cahir-civeen an easy third before Mrs. F. A. Clarks Hamptonian. SIX JUMPERS FALL. The Linstead witnessed six of the fifteen jumpers meeting with various mishaps, which began when Wonderful lost his rider at the third jump, and then Purple Dust was eliminated when he unseated A. Hughes at the seventh jump. Other casualties were Highland Captain, Dock Light, Damrinda and Proof Positive. The latter ran out of the course going to the tenth jump, was taken back and completed the route. Cahir-civeen set the pace for the first mile and a half and enjoyed a good advantage while leading the way. He, however, was unable to withstand the fast finishing St. Francis, which came from seventh place and at the end showed the way to Shylock by thres lengths, with Cahirciveen two lengths farther back and holding a long margin over Hamptonian. In the Neighbors Purse, a blanket finish had the crowd on its feet when four of the seven starters swept past the winning line closely lapped, and the placing found A. G. Weston, who serves as one of the stewards, furnishing the winner when Dancing Mack, under a good ride by J. Gilbert, received the verdict over Bokie B., which performed for J. Arthur II., and R. Parrs Lillybet was close to the paid to earn a nose decision for third over L. E. Keiffers Tu-lach Ard. Dancing Mack was able to outrun his opponents going to the first turn despite the fact that Lillybet began in motion. Gilbert took his mount under slight restraint as Lillybet raced in close pursuit, and Tulach Ard was right with the pair. On the back stretch Tulach Ard raced up to force the winner to a drive, and Lillybet was just before Bokie B. The latter was racing resolutely and when straightened out in the home stretch had moved close to the leaders. Dancing Mack drew clear momentarily but tired suddenly approaching the finish, while Bokie B., slipping through on the inside of Tulach Ard and Lillybet, was gaining in bold fashion but had to be content with second honors as they swept past the line with a half length to spare over Lillybet. Stroll Along, racing for H. McGehee, and ridden by J. Bejshak, turned in his second winning effort of his juvenile career when he led every step of the four and one-half furlongs in the initial event to score in a drive over Vendace, with Jesting a driving third. Stroll Along, particularly alert when the barrier was released, opened up a four lengths lead on his nearest pursuer, Vendace, after the first furlong, and appeared to have the others at his mercy, but Vendace came with a belated effort when straightened out in the home stretch, and in the final furlong Bejshak was forced to put his mount to a furious drive to reach the end of the distance just a half length to the good. Jesting, always in a forward position, was five lengths farther back, and then came Performance, from the Mereworth Stud Farm, to easily take the measure of the remainder,
