view raw text
OUTSIDERS EARN PURSES • Long Shots Get Home in Front Regularly at Aurora. » Wheaton and St. Charles Purses Head Program — Epernay Scores in First Headliner. ■ AURORA, 111., May 5.— Outsiders in the betting bobbed down in front at the Fox Valley Jockey Clubs track here this afternoon with startling regularity over footing that was the best of any time since the start of the current season at the Illinois course. Sprinters met in most of the races, with the Wheaton and the St. Charles allowance purses, over five and a half furlongs, serving as the headline attractions. In the first of the dashes, A. G. Tarns Epernay easily trounced five others, with Runamuck finishing second, following four lengths in the wake of the winner. Below Zero was a length and a half farther back in third place. Epernay exhibited the most speed from the start, opening up a safe lead quickly, which was increased steadily when the horses straightened out for the finish. The Pelican ruled the favorite in this event and was the third consecutive choice to fail his backers, while supporters of Epernay received .80 for wagers. In the other half of the dual headliner, the Chicago-owned Blue Ridge Farms Mr. James, gained a well deserved victory when the courageous five-year-old defeated Patch-pocket by a head, with Indiantown the other to share in the purse. As in the previous contest, there were only six runners that lined up in the starting gate, for the race over five and a half furlongs. Patchpocket began fast and held a slight lead over Mr. James for the opening quarter of the race but the bay son of St. James assumed a length lead thereafter, which he held until the last seventy yards where Patchpocket gained by inches and was within a head of overhauling the winner. Mr. James was the choice and the second to measure up to expectations. IMPROVED CONDITIONS. With the return of sunshine and a somewhat improved track, a better brand of thoroughbred sport was in prospect. Two allowance races, both at a distance of five and a half furlongs, headlined the program of racing, which was viewed by a large crowd of enthusiastic spectators. Considering all, the card was the most attractive since the inaugural days presentation. Fields were small in the majority of races but were not lacking in class as a good grade of platers performed in the five contests in which members of this division competed. Track superintendent Frigerio worked constantly on the track after the exercising period was completed this morning with the hope of achieving some improvement for todays races, as well as for the immediate future. Mrs. E. Oros gained the distinction of being the first local owner to register a vcitory at the meeting when Gibbys Choice easily accounted for the major portion of the purse in the six furlongs sprint that served as the days opener. Two lengths behind the winner was Deferred, while next in line came Billy ONeal. Billy ONeal, Royal Purchase and Commandman staged a head and head duel during the first quarter of a mile, but Gibbys Choice went into second place after rounding the far turn and did not experience any difficulty overhauling Royal Purchase in the stretch run, quickly opening up a margin of two lengths, which the bay gelding maintained to the end. The winner was favorite in the field of seven starters. LONGEST PRICED WINNER. The longest priced winner of the meeting was furnished in the second race when Benny B. graduated from the maiden ranks in the five and a half furlongs sprint, returning 28.60 for straight tickets. The three-year-old bay gelding defeated Jockana by the margin of a length, with Mica Rock finishing third. The son of Hallucination demonstrated sufficient speed to set the pace from start to finish, though he was Contused on twenty-sixth page. OUTSIDERS EARN PURSES Continued from first page. hard pressed to hold a slim advantage during the first half mile of the journey. Double Nugget, which ruled favorite, weakened badly after reaching the stretch and dropped completely out of contention. Another outsider in the betting raced down on the front end in the third when Jeu de Bar, making his initial appearance under colors since last December, scored a length victory over the well-played Judge Primrose, paying 6.40 for winning tickets. Hip Boots finished third. The result of the two successful outsiders in the second and third races caused a split in the "Daily Double" pool, since no ticket was sold on this combination. Holders of tickets on Benny B., winner of the first half of the "Double," received 9.80, while the Jeu de Bar half paid 9.20. The total pool for the "Double," with commissions deducted, was ,825.40. Little Heel was another that was not a part of the combination. Jeu de Bar was close to the pace from the start and overhauled Judge Primrose after straightening into the stretch. Apprentice "Chuck" Parke was astride the winner and handled the nine-year-old racer in excellent style. The Break upset the calculations of the form players in the sixth, which was over a mile ana seventy yards, with seven starting. Driving hard, The Break came from behind to defeat Captain Red by almost a length, with Shirley B. third. Captain Red dominated the race until the last sixteenth, where the ultimate winner overhauled the leaders.
