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FRENCH DUCHESS BEST Hertz Filly Outstays Well-Backed Cathop at Finish. Fields Small at Hawthorne With Cool Weather Prevailing Oziti Wins at Long Odds. r " . CICERO, 111., Aug. 18. French Duchess, three-year-old daughteV of Epinard, took down, the major honors at Hawthorne today when she carried the colors of Mrs. John D. Hertz to victory in the Old Elm Purse, feature race of the day. Piloted by jockey Earl Steffen, the filly led from start to finish, repelling the stretch challenge of the odds-on choice, Cathop, in gallant fashion. Cathop, well backed, gained ground in the last quarter but could make little impression on the winner and was forced to be satisfied with second place, while Waylayer was third. Re-hoboth, Prince Hotspur and Butter Beans followed the leaders to the finish in that order. The distance of the race was six and one-half furlongs, and French Duchess, on her toes at the start, soon raced to the front. Rehoboth and Butter Beans kept her company in the early stages, while Cathop was fourth, and the remaining pair followed. Jockey Corbett made his move with Cathop after leaving the back stretch, and when the colt swung to the outside to gain second jllace after entering the stretch, it seemed as if he would catch the leader. Cathop moved up to French Duchess flank an eighth out, but the filly had something in reserve and when Steffen flicked her with the whip she held her advantage and defeated her challenger by almost one length. iWaylayer came gamely to be third when Rehoboth tired slightly. Butter Beans" quit badly. FAVORITES FARE POORLY. The fields this afternoon were small, but still favorites fared poorly, while second choices were rather prominent. The track .was fast, and the weather coolest of the week. Oziti, one of the outsiders in the first race, beat the field of twelve away from the barrier and, leading to the end, paid 4.84. Hasty Peter, the favorite, raced to second place, and Hernando was third. It is probable that Hasty Peter was best, but he was off slowly and was forced to overcome early reverses to get up. Oziti was ridden by jockey M. Lewis, who was a last-minute substitution for jockey Woolf, who could not make the weight. St. Jim, the favorite, won the second race when he worked his way up gradually to head the field in the stretch. This race, which was more or less of a scramble, was at one and one-sixteenth miles and horses changed positions frequently. John Mill dashed to the front of the field approaching the far turn and opened up a good lead, but St. Jim wore him down in the run home. John Mill was second and Crushed Stone third. SIXTH SUCCESS OF YEAR. Little America, which bled last time out, came back to score her sixth victory of the year in the third race. Showing all her early speed, the four-year-old daughter of High Cloud was taken in hand after opening up a short lead in the early stages and, when threatened in the stretch by Broad Meadows, moved away to win with something to spare from Journeys End. Broad Meadows lasted to be third. A field of seven good sprinters competed and Little America, which was second choice, was ridden in an understanding manner by jockey M. Calvert. Silverdale, former handicap star, was a starter here and was last to finish. E. R. Bradleys good gelding, Ballygran, short-priced favorite, in the fourth race, was an easy winner. He was the first public choice of the day to score and had little trouble turning the trick. After beginning well, the son of Bubbling Over was taken back to permit Spartan Lady to set the pace, but when called upon in the stretch, wore down the filly to open up a good lead near the end. Miss Melody, never hard urged, raced into second place, catching Spartan Lady in the final strides. Six youngsters faced the barrier and Jimmy Smith rode the winner.
