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PARI-MUTUEL FINALLY WINS « Oft Disappointing Widener Racer Scores in Spindrift Handicap. • Belmont Feature Furnishes Most Thrilling Finish of Day — Blenheim Takes Second Place Easily. • NEW YORK, N. Y., May 25.— Pari-Mutuel, which has disappointed so often in his races, in a desperately fought out finish carried the silks of Joseph E. Widener to a close victory over the Wheatley Stables Blenheim in the Spindrift Handicap at Belmont Park today. He was the lightweight of the party, with only ninety-seven pounds, and little Sylvester Coucci brought his third winner of the day home when he played an important part in the triumph. The little apprentice had already won with Cutie Face in the first race and Bird Nest in the third. The Spindrift Handicap had a net value of ,210 to the winner, and it was Mrs. John Hay Whitneys Lightning Bolt that finished third when he outstayed Pompeius. The only other starter was William Ziegler, Jr.s Spinach, and he was badly beaten all the way. It was fitting the feature race of the afternoon should bring about the most thrilling finish of the day, and it was a race that again gave evidence of the riding skill of Coucci. Timing his run to a nicety, he brought the son of Fair Play through on the inside in the stretch and in the final stages outrode little Hank Mills. Pompeius set the pace and Mills rated Blenheim along back of the son of Pompey. The pace was fast, but the Coe three-year-old was under a pull as he sped along and Blenheim was racing well within himself to remain within striking distance. Pari-Mutuel, always sluggish in the early stages, dropped back and was last. When the stretch was reached Pompeius showed signs of tiring and there Mills made his move with Blenheim on the outside. As he moved up on the leader he looked all over Continued on twenty-second page. PARI-MUTUEL FINALLY WINS Continued from first page. the winner, but in the meantime Coucci had saved ground with Pari-Mutuel and the Widener colt was making up ground gallantly. Inside the final furlong he had his head in front and there followed a desperate duel to the end, where Pari-Mutuel had a lead of a nose. Blenheim had saved second place by four lengths and Lightning Bolt had gained some ground to catch the tired Pompeius to take third by five lengths. Spinach ran a dull race and was far out of j it at the end. Twenty-three juveniles gave considerable trouble at the post in the opening four and a half furlongs dash and through the running there was some natural crowding. Cu-tie Face, the Mrs. George M. Seglin starter, showing a great turn of speed, and running straight through the middle of the course, •was home first and rather an easy winner over P. S. P. Randolphs Jesting, with Mrs. Mary Comings Illusive just saving third from Nahunta and Dome, which followed in close order. Jesting raced in a forward position throughout as did Illusive, while Dome, after breaking well, was shuffled back in the early racing to come again at the end. He would have been third in a few more strides. Tinema, after beginning a bit slowly, ran into trouble and was crowded out of it, while the same misfortune met others of the big company. The steeplechase of the day was over the short course, under conditions that brought out some of the second division. It proved rather easy for A. C. Schwartz Cree when he led home the Brookmeade Stables Rooney, and the Greentree Stables Cherry Brandy gained some ground to outfinish Mrs. G. L. Redmonds Fairbanks II. for third. The result might have been different had it not been that Fairbanks II. was badly lamed in the running and tired at the end. William Duponts Fairy Girl was a distant fourth and Mrs. John Hay Whitneys Iridescent was being eased up in last place when two other starters, Captain Charles and Khaybaby, both came to grief. Captain Charles unseated King at the sixth jump and Khaybaby went down with Tammaro at the last jump when he was soundly beaten. Cree was so much best of the lot that he dominated the race. Fairy Girl chased after him closely for a turn of the field when she was through, and there it was that Rooney, which avoided the early pace, challenged. He made a gallant effort to catch the imported gelding, but was still half a dozen lengths back at the end. Lambert had rated Cherry Brandy along for a turn of the field, and when he called on the son of Chantey he gained some ground to catch the crippled Fairbanks II., which had raced close up with the leaders as he followed Rooney. Iridescent was a real disappointment. He lacked speed, and while he jumped well, was never a contender, being eased up when well beaten. Both Khaybaby and Captain Charles jumped badly before they were , eliminated from the race. Fortunately both King and Tammaro escaped serious injury from their falls. . Eight of the eligibles for the Coaching Club American Oaks were brought together in the Artful Purse, a condition affair. It saw Bird Nest, from the Greentree Stable, the winner with something to spare over E. R. Bradleys Boiling Water. Samuel D. Riddles Argosie, the sister to American Flag, closed a big gap to finish third before Laura Gal, the only one of the field that does not enjoy the Oaks engagement. It really amounted to a two-horse race, for little Coucci went out from the start to show the way with Bird Nest, and it was Boiling Water that at all times raced second. Argosie, slow to find her racing • legs, was far back in the early stages, and it was not until the stretch was reached that she came with a determined rush that saw her third before Laura Gal. Foxiana, after holding third place to the head of the stretch, tired rather badly, while Linton Nell and Pintail, the C. V. Whitney starter, cut scant figure in the running. As the race was run it was suggested that Argosie will show to much better advantage over such a distance as the Oaks, but it also demonstrated that not one of these eligibles would have any reasonable chance with Top Flight, which is being pointed for the big filly prize.
