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OKAPI WINS STAKE FEATURE • Bouquet Claiming Stakes Belmont Parks Outstanding Offering. ♦ Golden Fate Finishes Second and Bronx Park Third — Azucar Accounts for Jumping Race. « NEW YORK, N. Y., May 17.— Okapi, from the Brookmeade Stable, which had his racing education at Hialeah Park in Florida last winter, was winner of the Belmont Park special offering today when he scored in the Bouquet Claiming Stakes. This added ,750 to his earnings, and he finished in a fashion to suggest that he is a really good plater. Golden Fate, a son of The Satrap, carried the silks of William Du-ponts Foxcatcher Farm Stable into second place, with the Dorwood Stables Bronx Park a close third, beating Cutie Face for that part of the prize. Another day of delightful racing weather and an interesting program resulted in a crowd of good proportions being out, and there was no lack of enthusiasm. In the Bouquet Stakes there were eight that went to the post, and they were sent away to a good start with little delay at the post. Cutie Face was first to show but she soon gave way to Bronx Park and Golden Fate. They drew away, racing like a team, and running straight down the middle of the course. Cutie Face was holding third place, and then came Little Lad, the topweight of the party. Sweet Chariot followed the Chilhowee filly, and Okapi was farther back. Bronx Park and Golden Fate held resolutely to the lead, and there was little to choose between the pair, but Little Lad was soon swerving badly and dropped back from contention. Cutie Face was holding her place, and then Coucci rushed Okapi along until he came into contention. It was inside the final sixteenth that Bronx Park suddenly tired badly and swerved to the inner rail. Coucci was quick to rush Okapi through, taking a course between the tired colt and Golden Fate. This carried him to his victory of a length and a half, while Golden Fate outlasted Bronx Park to save second place by a neck. Cutie Face had also tired at the end to be another four lengths back. Janies Fitzsimmons equipped William Woodwards Faireno with blinkers in the Rock Sand Purse, which was the fourth race and the change was evidently to his liking. Continued on twenty-fourth page. OKAPI WINS STAKE FEATURE Continued from first page. Forcing the pace throughout, he was home an easy winner over Morton L. Schwartz Barcelona Pete, with Joseph E. Wideners Curate third but easily saving that part of the award from Mrs. John Hay Whitneys Boundless Deep, which ran a surprisingly bad race. At the rise of the barrier, Faireno and Curate at once drew away from the other pair and the three-year-old carried the old son of Fair Play along until he had enough and dropped back beaten. Continuing to gallop along in front, Faireno was not threatened and Malley had him in hand as he crossed the line with two lengths to spare. Barcelona Pete was last in the early stages, but like Boundless Deep, was utterly devoid of speed. In the stretch Walls saved ground and in the final furlong Curate quit badly under a drive so that the Schwartz colt beat him by five lengths for second place. Boundless Deep had nothing when he was called on by Ensor and he was a disgraceful last, four lengths back of the tired Widener campaigner. On Tap, which now races for William N. Adrian, won her fourth race in a row when, in a gamely fought finish, she led home E. R. Bradleys Blind Bowboy in the opening seven-eighths dash. Well back of the pair the Greentree Stables Semaphore saved third from C. V. Whitneys Clotho. Blind Bowboy acted so badly that he was taken to a position outside the barrier. He beat the field away, but his lead was not for long, as Robertson rushed On Tap to the command and early in the action it became a two-horse race. Fator had Blind Bowboy under restraint as he followed the mare and it appeared as though he could go to her at the first asking, but Robertson saved plenty with the daughter of On Watch and, when Fator finally challenged in the stretch, she fought it out with a courage that carried her over the line safely, winner by a head. The Bradley colt was four lengths before Semaphore, which had raced third throughout, and Clotho, only a neck away, had no trouble outfinishing Peacock Alley, the William Ziegler, Jr., starter. Blind Bowboy came out of the race rather badly cut about the hind legs and that may have caused him to tire in the final drive. The steeplechase of the day was over the short course and for maidens. It was won by J. E. Wideners Azucar, an imported son of Milesius and Clarice, and from his bold way of going it is entirely possible that he may find his place among the good ones before the end of the season. Taking the lead early in the two-mile gallop, he led throughout to lead home F. J. Navins Bagatelle, with Jack Anthony, from the Green-tree Stable, saving third from Thomas Hitchcocks Canandaigua, another English jumper. There was only one mishap in the running, when Farm Hand unseated McDermott four jumps from the finish. Fortunately, the rider escaped injury. As the handsome big chestnut gelding galloped along in front under steady restraint, it was Jack Anthony that went after him, and "Pete" Bostwick was close after the pair with Ca-hirciveen. These were the ones to dominate the race, though Canandaigua was always within striking distance. Tequila dropped out of it almost from the start, and Totalisa-tor was another that had scant speed. ■ a
