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ROCK OEST RACE Consistent Performer Accounts for Liberty Handicap at Detroit. Sabula Outlasts Mr. Sponge for Second Place — Close Finishes Thrill Big Crowd All Afternoon. DETROIT. Mich., July 4.— Rock X., a successful and consistent performer here under H. H. Cross* Tranquility Farm colors, scored the most important triumph of his career in accounting for the ,500 added Liberty Handicap, that featured the opening day of the summer season of the Detroit Racing Association here this afternoon. Two lengths in the wake of the three-year-old son of Rock Man at the end of the six furlongs under hustling tactics was Fred Alger, Jr.s Sabula, which beat C. Leroy Kings Mr. Sponge a length for second place. Marooned was fourth, with Clotho, Miss Patience and Bahamas completing the dash in the order named. Out of the field of eleven named overnight, only seven paraded for the dash with Mr. Sponge, which has yet to come to his best form, shouldering the top impost of 113 pounds. Rock X. carried the lightest assignment of 103 pounds and ran the distance over the fast track in 1:12. By virtue of his victory he earned ,310 for Mr. Cross, a Chicago patron. With the exception of Miss Patience, which was shipped here for her engagement, the field was composed of sprinters i that have been under colors here during the i spring meeting. HELD UNDER RESTRAINT. There was a quick start to the feature, which served as the sixth race, and although Bahamas and Miss Patience were the first under way Marooned lost little time in i taking command. Johnny Mattioli was content to allow Rock X. to follow in the wake of the pacemaker until the close of the opening three-eighths, but at that stage he drove Rock X. into command and he drew away to a clear advantage. In the final furlong, however, Rock X. began to falter and Mattioli was forced to put him to pressure. After a half mile Miss Patience began to tire and Sabula, which was lucky in finding room on the inside, came with her strong threat that disposed of Marooned and held Mr. Sponge safe in the run to the , finish. Although Clotho was a slight favorite over Rock X., he failed to show to his best and was never a factor. Although the day opened in real springtime fashion with a cool breeze that made i conditions comfortable, clouds hovered over • the course before the first race and gave , out a real threat of rain. Despite the counter attraction of a double header ball game, , the crowd, estimated at 15,000, was one of • the largest of the meeting. Different from , | I other days when late comers swelled the gathering, the enthusiasts had filled every available seat in the grandstand long before , the opening race. Tardy spectators took advantage of the bleacher seats and few of these remained vacant when the field for the supporting attraction went postward. The big erowd was kept on edge all afternoon when the starters came to the finish so closely aligned that in most instances it required the official placings to separate them. SUN MONK BY NECK. The Old Glory Purse, which served as the fifth race and supporting attraction, provided a hard fought battle with C. Savards Sun Monk emerging the winner. At the end of the three-quarters Mrs. A. M. Creechs Terrier was a neck back of the winner and a head before H. Neus-tcters Our Count. Nine started and, while Our Sailor was rushed into the lead soon after the start and disposed of Ep in the run to the far turn, the winner was lucky to find room on the inside and after Terrier, which had improved his position at a loss of ground, reached the lead midway of the stretch the Savard representative gradually wore him down in the drive to be the winner. After being outrun for a half mile and forced to come to the outside for the drive, Continued on twenty-fifth page. i J • ; . I ; , | ] , i , : i : • l • ; • ■ ; • J ROCK X BEST RACE i Continued from first page. Our Count closed with a rush to beat Capitalist for third. While Terrier was a strongly supported choice, Sun Monk, despite his last victory, was lightly regarded and paid 8.20 for each i investment. Under 108 pounds, the winner ran the distance in 1:13%. A nose finish and a bad start featured and marred the first race, which went to • L. L. Kaplans Good Aim, which earned his : victory at the expense of Sun Lure. Possibly i much the best and one of the last in motion. , Dark Dianne was third, two lengths back of Sun Lure and three lengths before Green . Lotus, which, like the leading pair, were • benefited at the start. Although first under way, the favored . Good Aim was forced to give way to Sun Lure, when she forged to the front and drew away to a good lead. Nearing the I stretch Alfred Robertson drove the winner • to the lead, but Sun Lure held on gamely. Although appearing eliminated at the break, ■ Dark Dianne rushed into contention in the ! opening quarter and held on in fine style i in the run through the stretch. Another close finish came with the running ■ of the three-quarters second race. The i W. D. Hendleys stanchly supported Cam- pagna beating Scythe a nose for the winners portion. Third went to Merry Caroline. While i the winner, which was outrun to the stretch, , was lucky to be on the inside when the tiring Moonsan carried Merry Caroline and Scythe wide, the latter was probably the best and would have reversed the decision under more favorable racing luck. The third race, that attracted a field of six at six furlongs, provided another close finish when Mrs. A. M. Creechs Coya lasted : to beat Kieva, which, despite making her i first start in more than a month, was in- : stalled a 11 to 10 choice. Third went to : Aunt Flor. , Another bad start marred the race with Coya and Beckoned favored at the break. While the latter was the first in motion and i set a good pace, Coya was in closest attendance and after disposing of Beckoned in : the run for home held on gamely when . Kieva came with her belated rush. Although | unprepared at the start, Aunt Flor made ; up ground fast and was wearing the leaders down at the finish. In a ding-dong finish, the fourth straight i of the day, L. J. Johnsons Tut Tut beat Thistle Fyrn by a nose for the winners ; i portion of the fourth purse. A small field of six started and at the end of the mile and an eighth Enigmatic was third. Never far back of the pace of Star Brook and Thistle Fyrn, the winner, a slight favorite over the latter, gradually wore down Thistle Fyrn and was drawing away at the i end. Enigmatic improved her position i gradually to beat Star Brook a* length and | a half for third place.
