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PRELIMINARY TO DERBY Prince Splendor Triumphs in Abiline Purse at Arlington Downs. Texas Derby Eligibles Compete in Feature Hair Trigger and Blue Cat Furnish Surprises. ARLINGTON j Texas, April 15. Three Texas Derby eligibles. from the second flight opposed six non-eligibles in the Abiline Purse, which was the principal offering as Arlington Downs swung into its final week of spring racing this afternoon. The sprint, at the Waggoner course distance, was productive of the first popular victory of the afternoon when Thomas C. Wordens Prince j Splendor reached the finish a half length before Leo J. Marks Marmara. The latter led the Milky Way Farms Blue Armor by a length for second. Monks Time saved fourth from the six others which included Chuck Wagon and Phalamo, like the winner, eligible for Saturdays rich feature. Cloudy skies prevailed but a surprisingly large crowd was present for the sport, which was packed full of surprises. After a short delay at the start, the field got away in fine order with Prince Splendor the first in command. However, he soon gave way to Phalamo, which led the field to the far turn, where Marmara forged to the front, drawing away slowly. Marmara was clear of the others entering the stretch but Jack Westrope, . who was forced to lose ground with the winner, put him to strong pressure and he had him only a head back of the pacemaker midway in the stretch. Although he reached the lead soon afterwards, Prince Splendor was unable to draw away from his opponent, which held on gamely. Also forced to lose ground in the early stages and in close quarters during the run through the stretch, Blue Armor did not find room until near the end where he was some three lengths before Monks Time. Under 113 pounds, the winner ran the distance over the fast track in 1:08. CHANCE QUEEN SPEEDY. Covering the half mile in :46, which equals the track record, Chance Queen, juvenile daughter of Chance Play and Crystal Queen, which performed under Mrs. Henry Dattners Detroit-owned colors, was an easy and surprising winner of the initial race. Taking command at the far turn, the winner, which was making her first start, led from there on to be two and a half lengths before the heavily supported Miss Diavolo at the close. Three lengths separated the latter and Billy I., with The Flankman, which also received good support, the best of seven other maiden two-year-olds that started. Cecil Howard sadled another winner for R. C. Thatcher, Pueblo, Colo., banker, when Traitor carried his colors to a driving victory over Need, Broadstep and nine others that met at the Waggoner course distance for the second race. Never far back of the Continued on twenty-fourth page. PRELIMINARY TO DERBY Continued from first page. pacemaking Debbie and Need, the winner, which had the services of Lester Balaski, forged to the front in the last sixteenth to reach the finish a half length before Need. The latter tired after gaining the lead, when Debbie bore out badly entering the stretch. Shuffled back at the far turn, Broadstep was in close quarters until reaching the final sixteenth. Black Peter, strong second choice to Need, was far back throughout. Another driving finish and a surprise came with the third race, also a Waggoner course sprint, when J. M. Brooks Blue Cat lasted to beat the well backed Jakovia by a half length at the end. My Surprise was third, three lengths back of Jakovia, and a head before Attraction, which was in close quarters the greater part of the sprint. The winner was the first under way, but Bonnie Pan forged to the front soon afterwards to lead her field in the stretch. Taking command near the final three-sixteenths, Blue Cat drew away, but Jakovia, which drove through on the inside, was fast wearing her down when the finish was reached. Unable to improve his early position, My Surprise responded fast in the final furlong, but bore over on Attraction in the late stages. Surprises continued through the fourth race, also over the Waggoner course distance, when Mrs. E. Oros Hair Trigger led Annan, Justice B. and nine others to the finish. Beginning slowly and forced to work his way forward on the outside of the field, the winner responded fast in the stretch to reach the finish a length before -Annan, which beat Justice B. half a length for second. Used up in pacemaking and forcing the pace, Beckoned and Inflate tired rapidly in the final furlong; Annan enjoyed favoritism. E. B. Shipp will leave at the end of the meeting for Chicago. His string is headed by Irenes Bob, a consistent winner at New Orleans. Butsy Hernandez plans to shro to Aurora.
