view raw text
SUN MONK TEXAS SURPRISE Anthony Colorbearer Driving Winner of Rusk Purse. Attendance Good Despite Cloudy Morning and Intermittent Showers Odd Blue Accounts for Third. ARLINGTON, Texas, April 8. Furnishing another of several surprises Sun Monk, fashionably-bred four-year-old gelded son of Sun, Briar, which races for Mrs. Edward Anthony, was a driving winner of the Rusk Purse, fifth and main" attraction of the Arlington Downs program this afternoon. He reached the end of the mile and a sixteenth, which he ran in the good time of 1:44, a length and a half before the Long Run Stables Marynell, which tired after showing the way to the final furlong. B. Hernandez Woodlander was third and Crofter, a well-backed choice, finished fourth. Fire Advance, Chanceview and Sarada completed the journey in the order named. The light rain, which started to fall after the first race, had no effect on the track and it was at its best for the running of the feature. There was little delay before the start of the Rusk Purse, and the field got away in alignment. Although Fire Advance was first in motion, the speedy Marynell, which was making her 1936 debut, soon forged to the front and reached the back stretch clear of the winner, with Woodlander, Fire Advance and Crofter racing in closest pursuit and in close order. Near the final half mile J. Longo drove Sun Monk up on the outside of Marynell and they raced head and head to the final furlong, where the winner forged to the front. Responding well to Longos strong urging, Sun Monk increased his advantage steadily, while Marynell gave way and was only a half length before Woodlander at the end. Saving ground throughout, Crofter, a son of Cudgel, refused to respond to Bram-mers strong handling and only lasted to beat Fire Advance by a head for fourth laurels. Chanceview and Sarada were always far back. Another disagreeable day prevailed for the sport, cloudy weather lasting until after the first race, while a drizzling rain fell intermittently during the afternoon. However, a surprisingly large crowd braved the elements to witness the attractive program. Favorites and those held in light esteem struggled for leading honors and an improved effort came with the Travis Purse, for three-year-olds and for which a small field of seven top notch platers were under colors. C. W. Pershalls Naughty was an easy winner. She reached the end of the short three-quarters of the Waggoner course two lengths before Mrs. A. M. Creechs Southern Way, which enjoyed favoritism over her. Lee Erbs Lovely Spy was third, three-quarters of a length back of Southern Way and four lengths before Be Big. Frank Chojnacki, who started his day with a victory on Transport, directed the Pershall filly, and he had her in front when the start came. Sundad raced in closest pursuit to the stretch, with Southern Way showing the way to the others. Near the final furlong Southern Way moved into second place but after a vain attempt at catching the winner she tired and was hard pressed to hold Lovely Spy safe. With the exception of Sundad, which gave way fast in the last furlong, the others were never factors. Little Wichita, useful home-bred daughter of Royal Ford, which races for Waggoner Brothers Three Ds Stock Farm, chalked up her second victory and provided a popular score in leading Off Side, Hearty and eight others to the finish of the half mile dash that opened the program. Although she swerved slightly when taking command at the far turn, the winner, which had the services of Charley Parke, sprinted into a commanding lead and the finish found her more than three lengths before Off Side, which lasted to beat Hearty by a neck for second. Evilo which was eased up when the winner swerved to the inside, finished fourth after holding second position for five-sixteenths. Turning into the stretch, Pierson drove Off Side to the inside but he tired after offering a mild challenge. First Time, the second choice, was through after three-eighths. Little Wichita ran the distance in :48 and was a 6 to 5 choice. Transport scored his second victory but unlike his previous success when he was a heavily supported choice, he was lightly regarded and returned the handsome dividend of 9.80 for each straight. Second went to Chiefs Pride with Night Brigade third. Eleven mediocre platers started in the Waggoner course sprint for which Ridge Wise was a heavily supported favorite, but after forcing the pace to the stretch he quit badly and had only Carbines Comet beaten at the end. D. Brammer rode his first winner in two days and the Mayfield Stables Odd Blue scored his second success when he was an easy winner of the third race, also over the Waggoner course distance. Merry Caroline a field horse, was second, and Moisson third. Moving up fast after leaving the back stretch, Odd Blue responded to Brammers good urging in the final quarter and, subduing Bald Crest in the last eighth, came to the finish three lengths before Merry Caroline, which beat Moisson by a head for third. With the exception of Retired, which quit, the others of the field of twelve, including the well backed Hueu and Maystick. were never factors. A. J. Heffernan, patrol judge during tho recent Oaklawn Park meeting, is a visitor here.