view raw text
ARIEL CROSS MAKES AMENDS Disappointment of Frontier Exposition Handicap in Popular Victory. Leads Home Fickle Chance and Croon in Menard Purse, Main Offering of Thursdays Program. ARLINGTON, Texas, April 16. Ariel Cross, a disappointment in the Frontier Exposition Handicap, but winner of a sprint affair here, scored a popular triumph in accounting for the Menard Purse, feature of a program which, with the exception of one race was given over to sprinters at Arlington Downs this afternoon. Reaching the end of the abbreviated six furlongs of the Waggoner course slightly less than two lengths before Mrs. Raymond Pollards Fickle Chance, the H. C. Hatchs colorbearer, which carried the crushing impost of 120 pounds, demonstrated that he should be a factor in the Centennial Exposition Handicap, which features the closing days program on Saturday next. Croon carried W. C. Stroubes colors into third place, three parts of a length back of Fickle Chance and a length before West Main. Woodlander, which completed the field, was a length and a half in West Mains wake. Dan Brammer, Americas leading rider, was astride the winner, which ran the distance in 1:08, and within one and one-fifth seconds of the track record. There was a slight delay before the start, but once aligned the quintet went away in fine style, with Croon the first to show. The winner was right with her, but Fickle Chance lost little time in reaching second place, and Brammer was content to allow the pair to battle for leadership. Approaching the final three-eighths, Brammer drove Ariel Cross to the outside of the leaders and he had him alongside of them as they swung into the stretch. In the final furlong Fickle Chance headed Croon, but it was of short duration, for Ariel Cross soon forged to the front to draw away rapidly thereafter. West Main and Woodlander, which were always far back, raced on even terms to the last sixteenth, where West Main drew away. Cloudy weather during the morning hours brought forth a light rain as the field paraded postward for the first race, but it was of little consequence and had no effect on the track, which is sadly in need of a heavy downpour. The threatening weather hurt the attendance, the gathering being smaller than that of Wednesday. Although Ariel Cross furnished the first real popular score of the afternoon, second choices were very prominent. Mrs. Ethel V. Mars Milky Way Farms Stable furnished another two-year-old winner when Miss Gravity, a daughter of Gallant Fox and Gravitate turned back nine other maiden fillies that met over four furlongs for the opening race. Showing improvement with steels added to her equipment, the winner, which was ridden by A. Robertson, wrested the lead from Royal Palace, approaching the stretch turn to be a half length before Valdina Farms Solar Maid at the end. Ruth Scout was third and Miss Pompey, a stablemate of Solar Maid, fourth. For five-sixteenths, Royal Palace raced head and head with the winner, but she gave way when Solar Maid offered her belated threat. Escohigh, which shared favoritism with the winner, was always far back. Lyra, which came in for good support, showed nothing. Field players came into their own in the second race, the only one of the afternoon at a distance greater than six furlongs when E. Robinowitz Try It, and the unfashionable apprentice P. Camp, provided the winning combination. Modesto was second and Lonesome Pine third. Far back while Baboo, Modesto and Club Soda were engaging a stubborn battle for leadership, Try It drove around his field entering the stretch to wear Modesto, down in the last sixteenth and lead him by a length at the end. Modesto, which shared favoritism with Club Soda, drew clear after disposing of the latter, but she bore out in the last stages and was unable to withstand the winners determined charge. Bourbon Rose was coupled with the winner in the mutuel field. Field players won 5.90 for each straight. Edward McCuan saddled his first winner of the meeting and Galla chalked up her first success of the year when she led Supreme Maiden, Losweep, the well supported Gypsy Flame and five others to the finish of the third race at the Waggoner course distance Ridden by H. Chinn and under a good drive in disposing of Supreme Maiden, which alternated at pacemaking during the run to the stretch, Galla drew away in the final quarter mile to be two lengths before Supreme Maiden at the close. The latter, Lo sweep and Gypsy Flame reached the end heads apart and a half of a length before My Bow, which tired in the last eighth. Count Cotton was eliminated when his saddle slipped and Hasty Rock ran out approaching the stretch turn. Francis Polk rode his first winner since his bad fall at New Orleans when he drove Mrs. J. G. Angners Cycas to victory over Draco, Aguila and nine other mediocre three-year-olds that met over the Waggoner course in the fourth race. During the run to the final furlong, Mayor Holcombe and Betty Shaw dominated the pace with the latter forging to the front at that stage. However, her exacting task proved too great and she gave way rapidly when Cycas, Draco and Aguila offered their belated threats. While Betty Shaw, which enjoyed favoritism, saved fourth laurels. Mayor Holcombe quit fast to be well beaten at the end.
