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i 1 j A | » I J j | j | j I | , I j i | ■ t FLAG BEARER TRIUMPHS » McCuan Racer Fails to Quit on Soft Homewood Track. — — : Beauty Secret in Startling Form Reversal in Fourth — Cool Weather and Heavy Track Prevail. ♦— HOMEWOOD, 111., May 27.— The Wood- lawn Handicap, a three-quarters sprint which brought out a field of five horses, was the best offering on todays program at Washington Park, and Flag Bearer, Ed McCuans six-year-old gelding, finding a track to his liking, was a handy winner. The son of Porte Drapeau, which is inclined to quit on a hard track, revelled in the soft going and led all the way, to win by a length from Gold Step, the favorite, while Hyman finished third. Smear and Wotan were un- placed. Jockey M Knight had the mount on Flag Bearer and rushed his charge into a two-length lead soon after the start. Gold Step was in second place in the early stages and, with several lengths separating him from 0M others, it became apparent that it would be a two-horse race. Turning for home, Flag Bearer hugged the rail and in the stretch Gold Step made a desperate attempt to catch him, but each time Finnerty, on the latter, applied the whip the gelding swerved and, with Flag Bearer running straighth, could not cut down the margin. Hyman was a game going third. Flag Bearer was second choice and paid .60. The track was heavy again this afternoon and, as the weather was quite cool, the : attendance was light. i Silent Shot, which performed so poorly at J Exposition Park that he was placed in the mutuel field this afternoon, showed a liking for the soft going and won the opening race . as he pleased. Favored by drawing inside -post position in the five-furlong race, he broke quickly and was never headed. Mr. Joe raced well to be second, and Interpreter defeated Flying Fleet for third money. Projectile, the favorite, was pocketed in the early running and never threatened. All three horses to earn purse money were outsiders. The race was for maiden two-year-old colts and geldings. Diminutive Johnny Neel assumed the leadership of the Washington Park riding list when he piloted Durva, the favorite, to victory in the second race. Durva was much the best and Neel did not have to possess an over abundance of skill to have her home in front. Close up in the early stages, Durva responded readily when called upon rounding the stretch turn and galloped past Suniday and Brooksie in the stretch to win in hand. Brooksie outgamed Suniday for second place. The race was at six furlongs and seven started. Twelve two-year-old fillies fought it out in the third race, and the finish found Helen Bab. from the stable of L. C. Young, in front. The daughter of Sun Pal, which made a creditable record at Churchill Downs, seemed to like the soft track and, after being close to the pace from the start, headed the early leaders in the stretch and Continued on twenty-second page. FLAG BEARER TRIUMPHS Continued from first page. won by almost one length. Stimoway, a maiden, was a game second, and Mintogee, the favorite, finished third. Terry Rose, a first time starter, showed speed in setting the early pace but tired in the final drive. Helen Bab, despite the fact that she has never been unplaced, was lightly backed and paid 5.90. Beauty Secret, beaten off last time out, showed a form reversal in winning the fourth race at long odds. Although she was outrun in the early stages of the mile contest, she saved much ground by clinging to the rail in the run home and got up in time to beat Anita Ormont by a nose. Third money went to Donna Dear, which suffered some interference, while Jane Packard was fourth. Fairy Lass set the early pace, but tired badly when the real racing began. Beauty Secret paid 5.82.
