view raw text
WEST MAIN WINS AGAIN Moves Up in Class and Surprises Washington Park Crowd. Sweeping Light and Bold Lover, Co-Favorites, Second and Third in the Dolton Purse. 1 HOMEWOOD, 111., June 3 Competing with the best class of performers he had opposed in some time, West Main, five-year-old Westwick gelding that races under the silks of Charles A. Peck of Chicago, furnished a mild surprise for todays large Monday crowd at "Washington Park when he accounted for the Dolton Purse. Sweeping Light and Bold Lover, which virtually shared favoritism, finished second and third, with Gusto nearest in the latters wake. Only two others Chief Cherokee and Countess Bina saw action in the sprint which divided interest with the Gary Purse, in which nine three-year-olds tried conclusions at one mile. It was a day of spectacular sport for the fine crowd, the length margin by which the Peck representative defeated Sweeping Light being the most decisive up to that time. Favored by fast footing, the Peck gelding raced the distance in 1:24. He was ridden by J. Longden, who reported to the A. A. Baroni stable here yesterday. EXCITING TUSSLE. Although the field raced out of the chute and went another quarter badly strung out, the final three furlongs of the Dolton developed an exciting tussle, during which four of the six contestants were seen in front. Chief Cherokee, the. early pacemaker, was the first to be routed from the lead. Bold Lover, which luckily came through on the inside, as both Chief Cherokee and Sweeping Light swerved out on the stretch turn, was the one to head the early leader. Moving into command with a rush, the Mrs. E. Haughton colorbearer was showing the way by two lengths as the final quarter was reached. In the next eighth ground was closed by Sweeping Light and the winner, and Sweeping Light managed to push his head in front before West Main, plunging down the middle of the track with giant strides, forced him into second place. The winner wearied some as the finish neared, but he had his field whipped and went under the wire a length before Sweeping Light, which enjoyed a like margin over Bold Lover. BLUE ARMOR EASILY. The cofeature also resulted in a Chicago triumph, Mrs. Ethel V. Mars furnishing the winner in her Milky Way Farms colt, Blue Armor. He won easily, with Spanish Babe second, and Ann ORuley third. Crowding, particularly on the turn, probably eliminated contenders in Tabitha and Dark Woman. Repeatedly blocked in attempts to race between rivals in the first half mile, Blue Armor came through gamely when he finally obtained room and, after getting to the front in the stretch, drew away as Spanish Babe narrowly retained second over Ann ORuley. The victor, making his first start since the Illinois Derby, in which he set the pace for a mile, was ridden by C. Landolt and saddled by R. McGarvey. He was third choice to Tabitha and Spanish Babe. Holdum Brown, confidently backed and ridden by L. Balaski in J. S. Kleins colors, raced out of the maiden class when he turned back ten other maiden juveniles in the first race at five and one-half furlongs. The Chicago-owned son of Brown Bud led the large field from the middle of the turn and crossed the finish a short length before Torolee, a Toro filly from the Milky Way Farms Stable. J. E. Wideners Rushaway finished third. The six furlongs second race, marred by an accident in which the popular youngster, E. de Perini, was bruised and otherwise severely shaken up, also fell to the favorite when Mrs. A. M. Creechs Civilian accounted for the larger portion of the spoils. Coin, de Perinis mount, fell while in a contending position shortly after the field of eight had reached the turn. After wearing down Love Sick, which made practically all the pace, the winner gamely withstood the bid of Night Flower long enough to slip past the line of finish a neck before the runner-up. Nose margins separated the three leaders at the finish of the six furlongs of the third Continued on thirteenth page. I WEST MAIN WINS AGAIN .Continued froni first page. race, and Flight of Gold, racing between Spicate- and Cheerus, had just enough of an advantage to earn the judges decision over Spicate. Cheerus, after showing the way by a wide margin for five-eighths, shortened stride, but itwas only when within a stride -or two of the finish that he gave way to the winner and runner-up. The finish of the fourth race, in which twelve of the cheaper and older platers compared- speed- over three-quarters, also was so close that the judges had to exercise their best skill in determining the winner. Dark Seeker, carrying Mrs. C. R. Scovilles silks and also piloted by Parvin, was winner in the spectacular finish which saw Polyphote, after racing from far back on the outside, only a nose back. The latter defeated Secret Tryst, which tired after alternating with the winner in the early pace-making. Gay Banner, High Bottom and Sea Eagle, all came through with fine performances.