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TRIUMPHS FOR NEW OWNER : Golden Fate Makes Auspicious Debut in Apache Stable Silks. Accounts for Inaugural Handicap at Alamo Downs -Threatening Weather Affeqts Opening Day Attendance. SAN ANTONIO, Texas, April 25. Golden Fate, recently acquired by the Apache Stable at Arlington Downs, made his debut one to be remembered by his new owners when the five-year-old son of The Satrap Golden Fair took winning honors in the Inaugural Handicap, feature race on the opening day card at Alamo Downs today. In a driving finish with Tracy and Dattners Sad Knight and the veteran Gold Step, which races for G. E. Ewins, he proved best. Wise Player, second choice in the betting to the odds-on winner, was fourth, while Pompous Genie finished last. Countess Bina, coupled, with Pompous Genie and Crash, -were late withdrawals, leaving but five to accept the weights assigned yesterday. After beginning in front, the winner was lapped with Gold Step, Pompous Genie and Wise Player for nearly a half mile. Entering the stretch, Wise Player moved to the front closely followed by the winner, with Gold Step a close third and Sad Knight, making his move on the outside. Pompous Genie dropped back badly beaten and, an eighth out, all with the exception of Pompous Genie, were closely bunched, with Golden Fate next to the rail, Gold Step outside him, then Sad Knight and Wise Player. In the final sixteenth, Sad Knight took command and appeared the winner fifty yards from the finish, but Smith called on Golden Fate and, responding to hard urging, he came again and wore Sad Knight down in the final stride. Gold Step gave way rapidly in the last few strides. Threatening weather kept the attendance down to less than 5,000. Light showers fell during the morning hours, but cleared around noon only to threaten before the 1 start of the eigt-race program. However, rain failed to fall and the low hanging clouds hung over the plant throughout the afternoon. The opener turned up a surprise victory for Statecraft. Ervast, the favorite, was second, and Bonnie Cap finished third. Tice took his time with his mount and, after disposing of Bonnie Cap after half a mile, stood repeated challenges from Ervast, which saved ground throughout. During the final fifty yards Ervast tired and the winner was going away near the finish. Flag Time earned his second race of the year when he was an easy winner of the second, which brought together a limit field at six furlongs. Nyack saved second place, while Montmary was third. Flag Time, after being outrun for half a mile, took command when Salve, who showed fine speed, tired entering the stretch. The winner opened up a good lead in the final eighth and had a length and a half margin at the finish. The second straight favorite took honors in the third when Brilliant Pal was winner of a hard-earned victory over the six-furlong route. L. Jourdan had. the mount and, although forced to lose much ground, raced on the outside of the leaders, caught Moving Clouds tiring in the final sixteenth, and was drawing clear of his opponent, Instead, which finished third, made a gallant effort, but was not good enough.
