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SOBIEHA SHOWS IMPROVEMENT . Outstays Cutie Face in Shawsheen Claiming Purse at Salem. ♦ Rockingham Park Races Governed by Claiming Clause — Khamseen Makes It Two Straight. SALEM, N. H, July 19.— Sobieha showed an improved effort over her previous race to account for the best race on this afternoons program at Rockingham Park. This was the Shawsheen Claiming Purse for sprinter platers of the better grade. The Mrs. McCuan mare reached the end three-quarters of a length to the good of F. A. Griffiths Cutie Face. Cantersine, performing for C. J. Meister, after setting all of the early pace, lasted to earn third from De Valera, and Gold Step was last. After a few minutes delay at the post the field was away to a good start. Cutie Face was first from the stalls, but was almost immediately headed by the Meister filly. Gold Step held third place, and the Sir Gal-lahad III. mare was showing the way to De Valera. There was no material changes in the running positions until approaching the stretch. Hughes, always holding a position on the outside with the McCuan mare, had moved into third place as Gold Step began tiring of his chase of the leading pair. De Valera had been shaken up, but was unable to improve his position to any great extent. Cantersine was still holding a slight lead over Cutie Face when well into the stretch, but Peters had the Meister filly under pressure to maintain her advantage. Sobieha when asked for her best slowly moved past the leaders. Cantersine tired when challenged, but Cutie Face went along with the winner, but De Valera had finished with good speed put too late, though beaten a neck for third. It marked the second successful ride of the afternoon for apprentice Howard Hughes, his previous winner being Charlie Dawn in the fourth race. It was another remarkably large throng that journeyed out to Rockingham Park for the days sport. The entire program, though governed by claiming events, provided close and spirited sport to suit the most exacting. A large band of older maidens faced the barrier in the initial offering, a dash of five and one-half furlongs. Dash In, racing for Mrs. C. H. Morris, raced to a well-merited victory, defeating Happy Surprise a length, while Morway, after establishing the pace until reaching the stretch, was third. Buster Moon, making his first start in two years, was a widely circulated "good Continued on twenty-sixth page. SOBIEHA SHOWS IMPROVEMENT Continued from first page./ thing" before the running. He flattered his supporters by racing up with the leaders for the first three furlongs, but dropped back fast approaching the stretch to finish in last place. The winner avoided the early pace, working his way up to the leaders gradually. He succeeded in wresting the lead from the tiring Morway when straightened out for the run to the finish, but had to be briskly ridden to shake off Happy Surprise. The latter outbroke his opposition, but Watters, apparently figuring it was not going to be a start, took up. The biggest upset of the meeting came in the second, a sprint at five furlongs for platers of the ,000 top and bottom class, when Monks Star triumphed. The Monks Way filly rewarded with the large return of 09.50 straight, 08.00 to place and 5.40 for third. It was the second start of the meeting for the filly, incidentally, chalking up the first win at the session for the silks of the Kentucky sportsman, Wood F. Axton. Monks Star won by better than a length over Mynah, the hitter carrying the silks of former jockey Clarence Turner. It was a close finish for the show position, when Foxy Quiller, a recent arrival, was along to wear down Lebam in the last stride. S. Vail was astride the winner and, never far from the lead at any time, challenged Mynah in the stretch. After a brief brush approaching the furlong post, the Axton miss went into the van and drew clear before crossing the line. Mynah did not give up without a struggle and was well clear of the others for her split of the prize. Sheldon H. Fairbanks located a sort spot for Old Baldy, and the Polymelian colt scampered home an easy winner of the third offering, a split of the previous race. Old Baldy was held at odds-on and reached the close three lengths to the good of Silverdale. The latter in turn was two lengths in advance of H. T. Archibalds Starogan. The latter had the early speed, but Old Baldy, moving up on the outside, put away the Westy Hogan filly when ready. Through the stretch Old Baldy continued to draw away without need of pressure. Silverdale shuffled back at the start, finished with good courage in the stretch run, raced into second place but was unable to cut down the winners margin. Starogan, though tiring, had no trouble in lasting to gain her placing. But for a brief spell when Paddock was well up in the first furlong, the others cut no figure in the running. A record number of claims were deposited for the winner, fourteen being anxious to secure the four-year-olds. In the draw E. Olyatt was the lucky one. Charlie Dawn, unfortunate in his previous outing, made amends in the fourth race. After bein gshuf fled back slightly through the first quarter mile, the Carlaris gelding worked his way forwardly, wore down the favorite. Prosecutor, in the stretch, and beat him to the line by a length. Well back of the leading pair Lealette closed an immense gap to gain third. Peters lost little time in getting Prosecutor to the front. He had to keep after the Zev colt to keep him in advance of Wax. Meanwhile the winner was moving up steadily. Near the stretch Prosecutor was placed under punishment, shook off Wax, but it had cost too great an effort, and when Charlie Dawn made his challenge, the favorite had little left and was forced to accept defeat. Lealette closed an immense gap to easily overtake the tiring Wax. Khamseen, acquired by J. D. Mikel from S. W. Labrot via the claiming route, scored his second straight victory since changing hands by easily accounting for the one-mile of the sixth event.
