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DESERT . CALL REGISTERS A POPULAR VICTORY : ; ; XX TAKES FEATURE RACE Rules Odds-On Choice and Beats Mr. Joe by Two Lengths. v Commuter Threatens in the Stretch but Tires and Finishes Third Good Attendance. HOMEWOOD, 111., May 23 Desert Call, speedy and consistent three-year-old uri-sexed son of Busy American and Polly Bunting, carried the colors of Laffoon and Yeiser to a popular victory in the Home-wood Claiming Purse, the principal offering of the Washington Park Jockey Club for the second days sport of its spring meeting at Washington Park here this afternoon. It was the outstanding score of the day for the crowd, as the Kentucky and Ohio owned victor was stanchly backed and with the close of the betting was held at odds-on. Running the distance on a fast track in 1:13, he won by more than two lengths, with C. C. Van Meters Mr. Joe in second place and Commuter, from Mrs. F. Preeces barn, third. Only two others, Portcodine and Ted Clark, accepted for the featured dash. After launching his effort as if to make a runaway of it, the winner found Commuter dangerous at the stretch turn and, in fact, for more than an eighth during the long stretch run. Coming up gradually, Commuter got his head in front as the final quarter opened but, with an eighth to go, the winner was back in the lead and this time soon dissipated all cause for anxiety. Approaching the final sixteenth he rapidly drew out and, nearing the finish where Mr. Joe wrested second place from the faltering Commuter, was well in hand. Jack Mayer, Louisville boy who rode his maiden winner at Churchill Downs last Friday, had the mount on the winner, which is trained by Roscoe Goose, Mayers contract employer. INTERESTING RACING. Desert Call triumphed before a crowd only a few hundred under that of opening day and pleasant weather again was an important factor in the fine attendance. Although small fields contested for a majority of the purses, the racing was interesting. The Devereaux brothers, Kentucky turfmen, furnished the winner of the first race, under claiming conditions and. for two-year-olds in Brustigert and he won easily, with Technocracy second and Impel, the favorite, third. Only seven raced the five-eighths and the running saw Double Nugget succumb to the three leaders after showing the way in commanding style for almost a half mile. The winner, first to head Double Nugget, opened up an easy lead entering the final eighth and held Technocracy safe in the late stages. Only a nose gave Impel the minor honors and he gained the small advantage when making the final strides, Double Nugget just failing to save that part of the purse. Burgoo put forth too game a finish for Portmanteau in the second race, at three-quarters, and the latter went down by a head following an extended and stubborn duel, with the former, which was making his first start since the New Orleans season and had up Mrs. A. Manales colors. During the muscle-straining encounter with the winner, Portmanteau got his head in front, but Burgoo was not to be denied, and M. Parke had him back in the lead within a few strides of the finish. A length and one-half back Predict filled third place, and Transformation was best of the others, among which were Suffolk and Drombo, both well backed. Hermie Roy and Prince Pompey, well regarded juvenile colts in Warren Wrights Calumet Farm Stable, failed to impress .in their first appearance when they were unplaced back of Swiftsport, General Parth and Cotton Club in the third race, at five-eighths, for maiden colts and geldings. The Calumet pair had very confident backing and failure of either to figure prominently at any stage was most disappointing to their followers. Rushing into a long lead soon after the start Swiftsport was in complete and safe command thereafter and won by five lengths as General Parth, after wearing down Pol- Continued on twenty-second page.. TAKES FEATURE RACE Continued from first page. vos Pride for second place, held Cotton Club safe. Plight, which finished in fourth place, displayed speed in spots and experience gained here may benefit him. Out Bound and Black Comet, which shared favoritism, were first and second in, the fourth race, the former winning de cisively while Black Comet only narrowly outstayed Sister Mary for second place. They had the three leading positions throughout and the winner, ridden by J. Westrope in Mrs. A. R. Smiths colors, easily drew away from Black Comet ami Sister Mary in the stretch. Black Comet, which set the early pace, tired badly after five-eighths but was good enough to keep in the van of Sister Mary, which also was very distressed after five-eighths. Jockey Westrope was astride his second winner when he piloted Stuyvesant Pea-bodys Meloy to a cleverly achieved victory over Bea M., Sweet Chariot and five other three-year-olds in the fifth race. This was decided over the three-quarters distance and the winner set his own pace to the final three furlongs. Alma S., the early leader, readily gave way to the Peabody sprinter and, while Meloys strides shortened badly in the final eighth, he successfully withstood Bea M. to win by a length. Sweet Chariot, which was jostled back with Flying Cadet, the favorite, closed considerable ground in the stretch and was third by a nose over Eisenberg. When clear Flying Cadet lacked speed and was never a threat. For the second time during the afternoon the E. Haughton colors were carried into second place by a public choice when Brass Monkey, which ruled at odds-on, finished in that position and back of Tack, a rank outsider, in the nine furlongs seventh race. The winner and favorite staged an extended and bitter duel during the stretch run arid, while Brass Monkey, which trailed in the field of seven for three-quarters, came through with a sturdy, belated charge. Tack was a neck better than him at the wire.
