view raw text
MYRTLEWOOD SUPERIOR Twelve Lengths in Front of Sparta in Ashland Stakes at Keeneland. Combs Filly Given Great Ovation in Final Appearance Under Silks G. South Saddle Star. LEXINGTON, Ky., Oct 17. Myrtlewood, queen of her division, retired from racing this afternoon after splashing mud on Sparta and Wise Bessa, her two opponents in the Ashland Stakes, feature of Keenelands first Saturday program. Shouldering 126 pounds like a feather, the four-year-old bay daughter of Blue Larkspur and Frizeur ran the mile and one-sixteenth in muddy going in 1:484 to defeat Hal Price Headleys La-tonia Oaks winner by a dozen lengths as the four-year-old representative of H. G. Shoemaker was another four lengths back. The victory of Myrtlewood was her second during the first three days of Keenelands inaugural meeting, as she had accounted for the Keen Handicap in clever fashion on opening day. Nearly 8,000 persons were present and they gave Myrtlewood another ovation after she had toyed with her two rivals. Rain during the night added more water , to the track and threatening and colder weather this morning probably had the effect of preventing a larger crowd. The sun broke through the clouds during the afternoon and the temperature took a pleasing jump. ENTERS STUD NEXT YEAR. Myrtlewoods triumph in the Ashland Stakes was .worth; ,000 and a. trophy donated bythe Thoroughbred Club of-America. It was her seventh stakes victory of the season in nine starts and brought her earnings for the season up to 4,080. Last year she earned 5,090. She is to be retired to her owners farm near here to enter the stud next spring. George South had the mount on Myrtlewood and she gave him a "triple" in consecutive races. He had little more than to sit still, with the Blue Larkspur miss going to the- front right after the start from her outside position. In the run around the lower turn she opened up a lead of four lengths and even though South made no move on her and was easing her up in the final furlong, she gradually increased her margin , until she was a dozen lengths in front of Sparta at the end. Sparta was sent along at her best clip by Johnny Gilbert, but had neither the ability to run in the mud nor the speed of Myrtlewood, and while she dropped farther back as the race progressed she held Wise Bessa safe without trouble. SCREEN MUCH THE BEST. Screen, owned by D. W. Butler, was much the best of the half dozen platers meeting i at six furlongs in the opening event and he j got the talent off to a good start. Ridden by H. Beasy, the-Tryster gelding went to the front quickly and opened a long lead. He finished four lengths ahead of Hal Price Headleys Baby Sis, as Morris Vehons Mouse Trap was two lengths back, in third place, and had plenty left. Prince Charlo was jammed back soon after the start and never threatened thereafter. The popular silks of J. W. Parrish were successfully carried. by Entree in the second event, which brought out seven three-year-old platers to go six furlongs. Ridden by R. Dotter, the daughter of-Rolled Stocking Home Body moved up on the inside of the pacemaking Miss Lizzie in the stretch and, getting to the front inside the final furlong, drew out steadily- to beat the latter by a length. Our Willie was made a slight favorite over the winner, but after threatening entering the stretch, he tired. Lucky Foot, which finished fourth, might have fought it out with the winner, but for bearing out badly in the stretch. South made it a double when he guided Brownell Combs Beauty Sleep to an easy triumph in the fourth, a six furlongs affair in which nine juvenile platers participated. The daughter of Infinite and Manta was hustled to the front right after the start from her inside post position and she held sway throughout to defeat Alice Jean, the favorite, by two and a half lengths.. Desgai came fast from a slow beginning to gain third honors. Beauty Sleep was among the outsiders in the wagering. George South, the roly-poly Indiana jockey, scored his fourth straight victory of the afternoon in guiding J. W. Parrishs Perlette to a clean cut victory in the Greentree Purse, the secondary feature. Seven fair youngsters made up the field for the six furlongs dash, with White Tie the favorite over the Parrish entry of Perlette and Proph. White Tie weakened after racing into second place entering the stretch.
