Empty Bottle on Top Again: Unruly Tactics during Stretch Run Prove Costly to the Fighter, Daily Racing Form, 1937-04-05

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EMPTY BOTTLE ON TOP AGAIN Unruly Tactics During Stretch Run Prove Costly to The Fighter. Milky Way Colorhearcr Beaten a Nose in Arlington Downs Attraction Whisking Big Upset in the Fourth Race. ARLINGTON, Texas, April 3. The Fighter, 1936 Texas Derby winner, returned to the track of his greatest conquest this afternoon and, but for his unruly tactics, probably would have kept his local record unblemished. Inclination to lug in to the rail during the final quarter of the six furlongs of the Three Ds Handicap, main attraction offered at Arlington Downs, cost him defeat by Mrs. E. B. Carpenters Empty Bottle, but he missed victory only by a nose and the picture was called to separate the pair. Clarence Davisons Boston Sound was third, slightly more than a length back of The Fighter and two lengths before Woodlander, which saved fourth from Gallienne, Trans-mutable and Reaping, which finished in the named order. Seven out of the original ten named over night accepted the weights for the revamped handicap, conditions of which were changed when the original stake failed to fill. After a good delay caused chiefly by Boston Sound and Woodlander, the field got away to a perfect start with Tommy May rushing Empty Bottle into the lead. Boston Sound, Reaping and The Fighter were heads apart and a half length back of the leader asthey went to the final half mile, but shortly afterward Reaping, which was on the inside, was knocked back and was never a factor thereafter. BECOMES UNRULY. Approaching the final quarter, Robertson sent The Fighter into second place and he was in striking distance of the winner when he became unruly. After easing his mount to straighten him out, Robertson set him down and, driving through on the inside of Empty Bottle, was in front in another stride past the finish. Boston Sound held on in game style to take third honors and Woodlander, which trailed the field the greater part of the sprint, charged down on the outside to take fourth honors. Transmutable and Gallienne tired after improving their positions, but at no time did they threaten the leaders. Empty Bottle carried 115 pounds, five lesa than the top weighted The Fighter and ran the distance in 1:13. He was second choice. The Fighter being a 3 to 2 hazard. Despite cloudy skies during the morning and light drizzles at the time when patrons were leaving for the course, by far the largest crowd of the meeting and one that rivalled other Saturday turnouts was present. Intermittent rains drove the fans to cover and caused congestion in the betting enclosure, but the certificate "handle" was a large one and gave evidence that the turf enthusiasts of this sector have lost none of their interest in the sport. FAVORITES IN MINORITY. Although the track crew labored on the oval, it still had not reached its best condition and was classified as good. Favorites again were in the minority but the surprises were of the mild variety. The secondary attraction, which served as the fourth event, resulted in one of the most thrilling finishes of the meeting when Whisking got up in the final stride to beat Mrs. A. Wallins Amazing by a nose at the end of six furlongs. Cactus Stables Slavonia was third, a length back of Amazing and a nose before Stop Scout, a 14-to-5 favorite. The sprint was exciting from the start, with Stop Scout taking command from his position on the outside of the stalls. Cherry Chic, Judge Leer and Slavonia were right with him and rounding the far turn Ved-der drove Slavonia into the lead. However, she swung wide entering the stretch and Stop Scout, which was next to the rail, again went into command approaching the final furlong. Judge Leer was only a head back of him and a length before Slavonia, but McDermott was weaving his way through the field with Amazing and he had him in the lead in the final sixteenth. During the run to the wire Whisking, which had raced far back for five furlongs, closed in cyclonic fashion and Rife had him up to gain the decision in a picture finish. After offering his bold bid, Judge Leer tired rapidly. Cherry Chic and Wise Bessa, which came in for good support, gave way after a half mile. Redress was always far back. Whisking, which was showing sudden improvement, ran the distance in 1:15 and carried 111 pounds. He returned 7.10 for each straight. BAGEN MAY SURPRISES. Bagcn May, furnished by Fred Turner, Jr., won her first race of the year and provided a mild surprise when she triumphed over the strongly supported Apronette, Able Abo and four others in the three-quarters first race. Far back while Apronette and Able Abe were leading the small field to the stretch, the winner, under Jack Richards handling, drove through the field to wear down Apronette in the final forty yards and led her by a length at the end. After chasing Apronette for a half mile, Able Abe swung wide entering the stretch and tired thereafter. Photography, which was well regarded, tired after reaching third position, and Irish Wake dropped back after five-sixteenths. The venerable Zeklel stretched his winning score to three when, despite bearing out badly entering the stretch, he was an easy and extremely popular winner of the three-quarters second race. High Bottom was second and Our Johnny third. Flaunting the colors of Mrs. R. E. Neal and ridden by Billy Neal, her son, the winner was rushed to the front, but Playmay and Elizabeth T., the latter on the inside, raced with him for a half mile. Entering the stretch, Zekiel went extremely wide, and Elizabeth T. and Our Johnny moved into leading positions. During the final run, where High Bottom wore down the leaders, Neal straightened the Zev gelding and charged past High Bottom, to lead him by two and one-half lengths at the end.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1930s/drf1937040501/drf1937040501_24_1
Local Identifier: drf1937040501_24_1
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800