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POTOMAC TO DARK SECRET; WHITNEY STARS LOSE o c Top Flight and Equipoise Among Unplaced at Havre de Grace Oscillator Second and Gallant Sir Third in 0,000 Stake -Pairbypair Defeats Jack High in Surprising Upset HAVRE DE GRACE, Md., Sept. 24. The name of Dark Secret was added to the roll of winners of the Potomac Handicap here this afternoon. Sent down from Aqueduct especially for the mile and a sixteenth attraction with its 0,400 for the victor, the son of Flying Ebony and Silence carried the Wheatley Stable silks ot Mrs. H. C. Phipps and her brother, Ogden Mills, in front for the entire journey. Dark Secrets triumph in the fourteenth running of this valuable event for three-year-olds was one of many sur- ! prises to a wildly cheering crowd of 15,000 persons who jammed the Harford Associations grandstand, club house and promenade. Despite his consistent record this season, which included victories in the Ken-ner Stakes and other important events, seconds in the Empire City Derby and Jerome Handicap, Dark Secret lacked substantial support from the large crowd. Carrying 110 pounds, the Wheatley Stable colt was given what bordered on a wonderful ride from little Henry Mills. Top Flights inability to finish among the first three was the greatest disappointment to the spectators. Cornelius Whitneys fine filly was installed the favorite, but as in previous efforts this season against the colts she was unable to master them. Her position at the wind-up was fourth, William R. Coes Osculator and the Northway Stables Gallant Sir finishing between her and Dark Secret. The latters final advantage was one length and only a nose separated Osculator and Gallant Sir. The Whitney filly was at the heels of the latter, with daylight showing between her and Snap Back. Then followed Stepenfetch-it, Rehoboth and the other starters, which included Larranaga, Springsteel, Minton, Late Date and Canron. The field was at the barrier slightly more than ten minutes, principally due to the fractiousness of Larranaga, which was the recipient of heavy support due to his record of five consecutive wins. PAIRBYPAIR LUCKY. Only a few persons among the large crowd were pleased with the outcome of the Severn Handicap, the secondary attraction, in which George D. Wideners Jack High and Cornelius Whitneys Equipoise were defeated by Mrs. John Hertz Pairbypair. The triumph of the three-year-old Noah Frizeur colt was one of the most surprising recorded in Maryland this season, while the performance of Equipoise, which finished last in the field of five, was unaccountably dull. Equipoise carried 129 pounds, and Jack High 123, while Pairbypairs impost was 107 pounds. The Whitney four-year-old failed to show any signs of his remarkable speed at any stage of the six furlongs dash, and many observers considered his a sulking exhibition. Jack Highs defeat may be attributed to a poor ride from R. Leischman, who handled his mount as if he feared only Equipoise. Pairbypair sped over the three-quarters in 1:12, and his margin was half a length over Jack High. The latter finished a length and a half in the van of J. W. Y. Martins Con Amore. Supreme Sweet was another five lengths back. The Whitney colt, an odds-on favorite, delayed the start almost eight minutes by his refusal to line up at the tape. When the start was effected he was caught flat-footed and was last of the field to reach his stride. Supreme Sweet began in front, with Jack High second and Pairbypair third. As Leischman took the Widener veteran in hand Pairbypair and Supreme Sweet rushed to the front, with the former on the inside, leading by a half length after the first quarter. On the turn the two leaders were just inches Continued on twenty-second page POTOMAC TO DARK SECRET Continued, from first page. apart and Jack High began moving up on the inside, flanking the front runners at the quarter post. Leischman looked back for Equipoise and, seeing the Whitney colt well back, took his mount in hand again. This gave Steffen his chance on Pairbypair and" he sent the Hertz colt into a two lengths lead midway in the stretch. Supreme Sweet had quit after forcing the pace for the first half mile, which was covered in AQ, and Jack High was second, two lengths ahead of Con Amore. Equipoise had been unable to gain any ground despite several touches of the whip from "Sonny" Workman. Seeing that Equipoise was not dangerous., Leischman set to work on Jack High, and the latter gained steadily on Pairbypair in the final furlong, but the mischief had been done and the son of John P. Grier could not overtake the Hertz colt in the short distance remaining. He was clearly the best. Con Amore ran an even race throughout. Given perfect riding by Mack Garner, Joseph E. Wideners Mr. Sponge led throughout in the old Dominion Purse to defeat S. W. Labrots Tred Avon by a neck. J. W. Y. Martins Dark Hope was beaten another four lengths and Flagstone was fourth. Chief John and Reveille Boy completed the field. Mr. Sponge made a wide turn into the stretch, forcing out Tred Avon and Flagstone and then Garner straightened him out for the finish. With plenty left Mr. Sponge responded readily to Garners hand riding and held Tred Avon safe to the end. He had run the mile in 1:39 and completed the full distance in 1:45. Dark Hope, which had moved up fast on the turn, succeeded in outgaming Flagstone in the final three-sixteenths. Reveille Boy failed to show his noted closing speed and wa3 eased up at the end.
