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UNDERSTAND SURPRISES iAstounds Spectators at Hawthorne Thursday With Unsuspected Speed. fSweeps Past All His Rivals in Featured Union League Purse to Beat Capt. Cal by a Neck. Coming from behind with a great rush through the field in the final quarter, Blue Ridge Farms Understand provided one of several surprises for a chilled off-day crowd at Hawthorne Thursday by taking the featured Union League Purse, a six and one-half furlongs sprint, for only his second win of the year. At almost 20 to 1 in the mutuels, the three-year-old son of Sun Flag astounded even his connections with his phenomenal burst of speed to sweep past all his nine opponents within little more than two furlongs, and he was all by himself leaving the back stretch. Getting over the distance on a fast track in 1:193 and driving to the front in the closing strides, he defeated another locally-owned entry Tranquillity Farms Capt. Cal by a neck. Mrs. A. B. Letelliers Water-cure, which finished third, was about -four lengths back of the runner-up. He outraced Sandstone, furnished by Shandon Farm, by a neck, for minor honors. Others to take part in the dash were Blind Pig, Caliban, Veeks, Sky Pirate, Hose and Firing Squad, and they finished in that order. Capt. Cal was the favorite, with Sky Pirate next in the regard of those who speculated upon the outcome. 1 BACK IN REAR. The early racing saw Blind Pig, Sky Pirate, Hose and Watercure in the leading places, but Capt. Cal was not far away and hopes that he would carry his stables colors to their second triumph of the day ran high when he rushed to the front on the turn. Approaching the stretch, where Sky Pirate "and Hose began to fall back, Watercure moved into second place. At this time the ,yictor launched his whirlwind rush, but he .."was fully half a dozen lengths back as he Straightened up for the stretch run, and it "was not until a furlong from the wire that he became a serious contender. Plunging on ;with long unwavering strides he overhauled Blind Pig and Watercure to reach second place entering the final eighth, then continued the drive to bring down Capt. Cal jwithin a few strides of the finish. Saddled by Otto Bagley, the Blue Ridge Farm colorbearer had the riding services pf R. R. Simpson. Mrs. M. E. OToole is the owner of Blue Ridge Farm. j With ominous clouds banking the heavens, and a damp, penetrating wind sweeping the course, the attendance, though noticeably below average, was surprisingly large for such a bleak day. ly OPENER TO FOND MEMORIES. Millsdale Stables Fond Memories, with C. .Corbett in the saddle, scored her first victory in taking the opening race for two-year-olds and bringing out a field of nine youngsters. Rushed to the front immediately after the start the successful daughter of Bostonian held a safe lead after the first three-sixteenths and running the five and one-half furlongs in 1:07 won over Jabberie by a length and one-half. In a bristling three-cornered finish, Busy Mae snatched third money by skimp mai-gins over Uvalde and Sir Midas. The winner was the choice. Racing with the cheapest company, Peg-gys Peggy, which had exhibited nothing in previous starts during the meeting, sprang a big surprise when she took the second race at six and one-half furlongs. Receiving a strong ride at the hands of Nick Wall, who was riding his first winner since arriving here from the East. Peggys Peggy sprinted to the front in the stretch and was leading the runner-up, Blue Hour, by a length at the wire. Canteron finished third with the three to two choice, Whiskarita, Jiext in the field of nine. After a bit of bad luck in the early stages the favorite was not good enough to overtake the leaders. Older maidens came together at six furlongs in the third race, and the contest, engaging twelve and delayed eight and one-half minutes by the antics of Ranicilla and Miss Sensation at the post, went to B. B. .Continued on thirty-eighth page. UNDERSTAND SURPRISES Continued from first page. Johnsons well-backed Bold Bid. She won easily and by six lengths, with Honorary, another well supported, second, and Parisian Witch third. The winner was piloted by H. Albrecht. Prince Johns victory over Our Patty, Hip Boots- and five others in the fourth race, also over six and one-half furlongs, gave the form players their second win of the after- j noon. Scoring his second tiiumph of the meeting, the winner survived a bitter stretch duel with Our Patty, only a head separating them at the finish, where Hip Boots was. two lengths back and well before the second choice, Moretide. The winner, owned by John Marsch of Chicago, was ridden by L. Haas. One of the outstanding favorites fell by the wayside when Garden Message failed to finish among the leaders in the six furlongs Windemere Claiming Purse or fifth race, won by Tranquillity Farms Lady Thatcher. Garden Message finished fifth in the field of nine. He was an even money chance in the betting and went down without mishap. The Darb and Tracker, both at long odds, accounted for second and third monies, respectively. Little Basil James on the winner permitted Tracker to lead the Tranquillity filly and others for about five furlongs and, after driving Lady Thatcher to the front, kept her safely before the fast-closing The Darb, though her winning margin was less than a length. Faltering when the real test came Tracker missed retaining second place by a neck. Fourth money went to Free 1 Spirit.
