view raw text
ILLUSIVE BY A HEAD Wins Mineola Claiming Stakes in Hard .Drive With Poppyman, How High Makes Good Finish to Beat Out Hell Diver Escapade Triumphs in Steeplechase. NEW YORK, N. Y., Sept. 6. Battling, head and head through the final quarter, Miss Mary Comings Illusive and Mrs. John Hay Whitneys Poppyman gave a small crowd at Belmont Park this afternoon plenty of excitement over the eighteenth running of the Mineola Claiming Stakes, at three-quarters straightaway. The former gained the decision and first money of ,600 by a head, with Mrs. T. J. Lewis How High finishing third three lengths back, a head in advance of Hell Diver. A good track prevailed for the days sport, the course having all but thoroughly dried out from showers during the night. As a result, time for the various events was slightly off, Illusive requiring 1:13 in covering the distance of the feature. Johnny Gilbert rode Illusive, and Hank Mills was on Poppyman, the latter hooking up with the leader as the field started by the infield pond. The former had maintained a slight lead from the break under restraint. Illusive held Poppyman at his throat-latch for a sixteenth of a mile, and then the latter drew up until he was on even terms with the Corning filly. With less than a sixteenth to go, Illusive gamely accepted Poppymans bid and then drew out ever so slightly just before reaching the finish. How High closed some ground toward the end to beat out Hell Diver for third, while Cattail and Okapi tired after being well up in the early stages.; BANK SHOT TO FORE. Finishing gamely on the inside under a powerful hand ride from "Sonny" Workman, Damon Runyons Bank Shot accounted for the opening dash for juveniles, under claiming conditions at five and a half furlongs straightaway. Kate, an early leader in the field of eight, was second, beaten a head with Gritford third, another length back. The latter two were coupled. The field was well grouped during the early stages with Golden Fate showing the way, but he gave way to Kate, which did not relinquish the command until the last few strides, in which Bank Shot just managed to catch her. China Bird, another well up in the early stages, finished fourth. Thomas Hitchcocks three-year-old Escapade, led all the way over the two mile distance to account for the steeplechase which was for maidens. His final margin over the Greentree Stables Cherry Brandy was five lengths, the latter getting the place by a nose over Gwladys Whitneys Rideaway despite the efforts of jockey J. McGovern to prevent him from doing so. Escapade swerved repeatedly in the early stages though jockey A Scott endeavored to keep him straight, but after a mile he settled down when Rideaway challenged him." The latter made an effort to pass the Hitchcock jumper near the starting point but was unable to do so. Cherry Brandy and Ferrara also were well up at that point, the former going in such easy fashion that it appeared he could go to the leader at any time. Continued on twenty-second page. ILLUSIVE BY A HEAD Continued from first page. The Hitchcock jumper increased his lead, however, on the final turn, as McGovern took back Cherry Brandy to move up on the outside of Ferrara and although the Greentree gelding saved ground coming into the stretch, Escapade had opened up too much of an advantage to be overtaken. Cherry Brandy and Rideaway staged a mild duel for second place with the latter getting the decision despite McGoverns poor finishing effort. Of the ten maiden jumpers that started, Ynobe fell at the third jump, Coq Major at the fifth, and Ferrara lost his rider at the last. None of the jockeys were injured. Following the running of the event, the stewards announced that McGovern had been suspended for the remainder of the meeting for his unsatisfactory ride and his case would be referred to the National Hunt and Steeplechase Association. Moine, owned by the Montalvo Stud Farm, displayed a return to winning form in the fourth, in which he defeated the favorite, Fleet Flag, by four lengths. Raccoon was third, a neck farther back and five lengths in front of Spinach, the only other starter. The distance was covered in 1:38. Fleet Flag acted badly at the post and was placed on the outside, where he began first. He was outrun by Spinach, the latter opening up a clear lead, with Raccoon second, Fleet Flag third, and Moine last, the j last named being rated along under restraint by S. Coucci. The field moved up on the turn, and Spinachs lead was cut to a length on the stretch turn. Moine was running fastest of all and quickly went past the others to open up a safe lead before reaching the furlong post. Fleet Flag and Raccoon staged a duel for second honors, with the former outgaming the Brookmeade veteran in the last sixteenth. Spinach tired badly after losing command. Ridden out to the end by E. James, although four lengths in fronts E, R. Brad- leys Blessed Event graduated from th ranks of maiden juveniles in the fifth, at five and a half furlongs, over the Widener Course. J. E. Wideners Even Stephen was second, two lengths ahead of W. M. Jeffords Learoyd. Blessed Event took command soon after tho start and James, fearful the colt might loaf when In front, kept hard at work on him throughout the race. Even Stephen also was under a hard, drive at th finish to save second place from Learoyd. The time as 1:06 and indicated that th track had reached fast condition
