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GUSTO WINNER OF THE AMERICAN DERBY 1 . $ M. L. Schwartz Colt Impressively Scores at Substantial Odds Easily Draws Away From Osculator, Prince Hotspur and I Say Immense Crowd Witnesses Stirring Spectacle HOMEWOOD, 111., June 18. Gusto, a promising son of American Flag, and Daylight Saving, convincingly demonstrated the possibility of his proving an outstanding three-year-old, with a clean cut and decisive victory in the twenty-fourth American Derby before a crowd .of 30,000 at Washington Park here today, ridden by the young Italian, Sylvio Coucci, in the white and brown jacket of Morton L. Schwartz of New York. Gusto ran the mile and one-quarter over a slow track under 118 pounds, in 2:10, winning easily and by two and one-half lengths from W. R. Coes Osculator, which, in turn, defeated Prince Hotspur, owned by the Estate of the late Joseph Leiter, by a length and I racing for Albert and I racing for Albert one-half. Say, Sabath, and the only filly among the eleven starters, finished fourth, and Mrs. John Hay Whitneys Stepenfetchit, favorite, was eighth. It was a victory that occasioned much surprise for the throng that sweltered under mid-summer like weather and those who backed the victor were rewarded with 1.34 for each straight. It rewarded Mr. Schwartz to the considerable extent of 8,-200, along with a handsome and valuable trophy which, in the absence of Mr. Schwartz, was accepted by Max Hirsch, trainer of the colt. The presentation was made by Stuyvesant Peabody, vice-president of the Washington Park Jockey Club. The race, among the richest and most important turf classics, was robbed of a brilliant performer when Walter M. Jeffords Boatswain, winner of the recent Withers Stakes, went wrong during the night, when an injury, believed to have been suffered in his final hard trial for the race before leaving New York, took a most serious turn. With Boatswain, which appeared certain to rule favorite, out, the public swung to Stepenfetchit and he went to the post at slightly better than 2 to 1. Osculator was the second choice and Yonkel, which finished fifth, the lone other at shorter odds than the winner. From a fine start I Say, ridden by C. E. Allen, was taken out to make the pace over the tiring, gummy track. Osculator, handled by R. Jones, followed in closest attendance of the Chicago filly and was under strong restraint as I Say moved along well to the fore the first three-quarters. During that part of the long contest first Sunmelus and then, Stepenfetchit occupied third position and, while Prince Hotspur swung out of the backstretch fifth, the winner and Yonkel were far back. At the sweeping stretch turn Jones called upon Osculator and, meeting vigorous call with strong response, the Coe colt soon ran around I Say and into a good lead. At this stage Prince Hotspur continued to hold a contending position, while Stepenfetchit went into a rapid retirement. After Coucci had straightened him up for the long run through the main stretch Gusto launched his undeniable and unbeatable great rush, yet was no better than fifth, three-sixteenths of a mile from the wire. With great strides he literally "ate up ground" from that juncture to the wire and a little less than an eighth out attained the lead. After heading Osculator, he pulled Continued on second page. GUSTO WINS AMERICAN DERBY Continued from first page. away steadily, with Coucci again briskly shaking him up as he entered the last sixteenth of the tiring route. As the Schwartz colt came on to his de- cisive conquest, Prince Hotspur made a-game hut vain effort to wear down Oscula-tor as I Say, tiring badly, dropped some six lengths back of the Coe colt. Closing ground in the last quarter Yonkel was five lengths back of I Say, with Sunmelus, which also found the late pade of the leaders too fast, was sixth, and Marmion next. Decision of the American Derby was witnessed by as large and representative a crowd as ever graced a race course in the Chicago area. The throng included hundreds prominents in social, business, professional, political and sporting life and numerous, indeed, were those who traveled ho small distance to view the "meeting of the three-year-olds. Kentucky, of course, had heavy representation and. from many parts of Illinois and northern Indiana came no few, harboring love for the thoroughbred. Club house and grandstand box parties were the fashion of the more distinguished visitors, yet many luminaries were seen among the general club house patrons. Club house box holders included: Gov. Louis L. Emmerson, John T. Connery, Thomas Leiter, F. M. Burton,. Jouett Shouse, John Hay Whitney, C. B. Shaffer, Arthur Meeker, E, R. Bradley, J. N. Camden, R E Joyce, Judge Henry Horner, Lieut,-Gov. Fred Sterling, Stuyvesant Peabody, Patrick A. Nash, Richard J. Nash, Charles W. Bid-" will, Howard Gillette, Robert M. Sweitzer, M. L. Igoe, C. K. Knickerbocker, Alfred Thibodeaux, Samuel Cole, Edward J. Hughes -and "many others. The crowd moved to the course under partly clouded skies and while a trifle slow in arriving every seat in the big grandstand was occupied when the opening race was run. In the club house the boxes filled early, and lawns of the club house and general enclosures were crowded. During the night, or to be more exact, early this morning, showers drenched this section and while the rain brought the track into a muddy state, it dried out rapidly as the day wore on and, while slow, afforded surprisingly firm footing when the racing got under way. Impish carried the colors of Johnny Par-malee, former jockey, successfully over Surf Board, Zone, Monks First and Jean Lafitte in the mile and seventy yards Drexel Boulevard Claiming Purse, which was fourth on the program. Although the winner closed favorite, Jean Lafitte pressed him closely for the honors, only to turn in a dull race under the apprentice W. Wright and the disappointing showing was a blow to his big following. After going a half mile in close attendance of Surf Boards pace, the victor slowly raced around the Greentree colt and through the stretch drew out until at the finish he was three lengths before the early leader, which, however, gamely outfinished Zone, taking second over the latter by a half length. z : . : : , :
