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CHESAPEAKE STAKES TO PLAT EYE Greentree Stable Colt Qualifies for Kentucky Derby by Carrying Off Havre Fixture in Most Impressive Style HAVRE DE GRACE, Md., April 20. Plat Eye, clubfooted son of Chicle and Crazy Moon, carrying the popular pink banner of Mrs. Payne Whitneys Greentree Stable, moved one stride nearer his Kentucky Derby quest when he defeated eleven other leading three-year-olds in the sixteenth Chesapeake Stakes, the principal attraction of an alluring holiday program here this afternoon. Sun Fairplay, a rank outsider from Mrs. Willis Sharpe Kilmers Fairfield Stable, was second, and Mrs. Walter M. Jeffords Commonwealth, second choice in the Derby future, third. Under jockey Silvio Couccis masterly handling, Plat Eye impressed with his early speed and superb courage at the end, although the running time for the mile and a sixteenth was a rather sluggish 1:46, three and two-fifths seconds slower than the track record set by Cavalcade in winning the. fifteenth Chesapeake last year. The Chicle colts successful sortie added ,900 to Mrs. Whitneys racing coffers, and he was second choice to Commonwealth. James Milton sent the field away to a good start. Coucci was alert and sent Plat Eye rattling to the front and, skimming the inner rail, rounded the first turn in the van under pressure from Brookmeades Young Native and Foxcatchers Sastar. The Bronx Italian took the Greentree colt in hand and rated him down the back stretch, disposing of the Brookmeade pair and willingly accepting Bloodroots challenge rounding the far turn. Bloodroot moved up on even terms with Plat Eye entering the front stretch, momentarily headed him moving to the furlong post, but the ultimate winner had something left. He spurted sharply to dispose of Bloodroot nearing the final sixteenth post, but Coucci was forced to a vigorous hand ride to stave off Sun Fairplays belated, bid by a neck at the end. Sun Fairplay, one of the seven Kentucky Derby eligibles in the field, turned in a surprising effort, surpassing his best efforts in the Florida" sector last winer. He was within striking distance of the first flight after the first three-quarters, and when taken to the outside entering the front path, he staged a whirlwind rally which was only halted by Plat Eyes courage. Commonwealth, rangy and long-striding, turned in a creditable seasonal debut. He was slow to get under way, but Workman had him in clear racing room down the back stretch. Once settled into his stride the Bostonian colt moved up powerfully on the outside rounding the last bend. He was picking up the leaders through the final three-sixteenths, but ran into close quarters in the last seventy yards when Sun Fairplay charged up on the outside. However, it is doubtful if he would have overhauled the winner. Bloodroot, always in the thick of the fight, staged a gallant bid entering the front stretch, but tired from her early efforts in Continued on twenty-second page. CHESAPEAKE STAKES TO PLAT EYE Continued from first page. the final eighth, winding up in fourth position. Young Native and Vain Bachelor displayed speed for three-quarters but then "retired. Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, young eastern sportsman, clinched the domination of the local juvenile colony when his Winter Sport turned back twelve of the better two-year-olds in the Old Postroad Purse. Beth Bon, from Detroits Bomar Stable, was second, and Beau Flower, a daughter of Sun Beau, racing for Willis Sharpe Kilmer, third. Winter Sport attended the early pace set by Beth Bon, which opened up a commanding lead in the first quarter. In the final drive the Vanderbilt colt moved up on the tiring leaders and at the end held a neck advantage. Beauf Flower was always in the thick of the fight. Eighteen thousand witnessed the program under ideal weather and track conditions. It was the best racing day of the Maryland spring season to date and promised well for the success of the final week of the twelve- day meeting at the Harford course. Jockey Jimmy Lynch was the riding star of the day. He piloted three winners, Desert Call in the first, River Rose in the fourth, and Maddening in the sixth race. Maddening, nicely rated by Lynch, out-gamed the slow breaking Newell in a hard fought duel in the final quarter of the mile and seventy yards sixth race. A half length separated them at the end. Fair Verbena was third, a length away. Desert Call, a triple winner during the winter, staged a successful eastern season debut when he drove to a handy score in the first race, at six furlongs. The favorite in the field, the five-year-old son of Busy American, was always in the pace, coming from behind to outgame Bonsoir, the early leader, in the final furlong by three-quarters of a length. Mountain Elk, slow to begin, worked his way up through the field and got up in the final strides to nose out Davoc for third. The latter, in close quarters for the half mile, tired at the end. Highest Point improved his position rounding the bend, but failed to respond when called upon for his best. After finishing second in each of her three Bowie starts, Paul Sanfords Candescent finally shattered the place "jinx" by winning the second race, also at six furlongs. The four-year-old Canter filly was hard urged all the way by George Watson and it was only in the final sixteenth that she moved clear by shaking off Vacillate, winning by a length and a quarter. Vacillate moved up sharply rounding the turn and headed the hard pressed Candescent at the furlong post, but wilted thereafter. The Volta mare saved the place award, three lengths in advance of the Canadian-owned Star Queen. Dark Vive, prominent in the early running, lapsed into fourth place in the field of ten. Stake blanks for the Latonia Jockey Club meeting" were distributed among the horsemen at Havre de Grace by Charles J. McLennan. Featuring the Latonia Stakes is the 5,000 added Latonia Derby, for three-year-olds, for which the distance has been increased to one mile and a quarter. It was reported that Piccolo, a starter for C. V.. Whitney Friday, grabbed his quarter i and will be given time to recover before racing again.
