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FRANCESCO SUPERIOR Easily Disposes of Opponents in Mayor Howard W. Jackson Purse. Comes From Last Place to Beat Isa-dore and Crius in Bowie Feature Minton Surprises in Fifth. BOWIE, Md., April 8. Francesco, bearing the silks of John Hay Whitney and backed confidently, was returned an easy winner of the Mayor Howard W. Jackson Purse, a dash of six furlongs which topped the program offered by the Southern Maryland Agricultural Association at Bowie today. Fashioned entirely for three-year-olds, which had never won two races and decided under allowance conditions, Francesco emerged victorious in clear-cut fashion. He proved that he was considerably the best of the half-dozen starters under silks when he came from last place in the small field to accomplish his success by two and a half lengths. Isadore, racing for Mrs. L. E. Ames, which has proven a failure for a lengthy period of time, was the one to reach the runner-up position, while ,third was the prize for H. R. Bains English importation, Crius, when he finished a length back of the Ames standard bearer, and well in advance of Aglow, Tuleyries Lad and Gay Jack, the only other starters. COLDER WEATHER. Cloudy skies and a drop in temperature lacked the necessary evils to detract from the sport, and once again the crowd was a large one. Racing all during the. matinee was rather formful, as several previous winners came back into the charmed circle. In the Mayor Howard W. Jackson Purse, witnessed by Baltimores chief executive and several notables, a good start was obtained for the half dozen entrants, and Isadore was first to be on his way. He went along smoothly under E. Smith as Crius and Aglow gave chase. Back of these, Tuleyries Lad and Gay Jack raced abreast while the slow beginning Francesco was back several lengths of his nearest opponent through the run down the back stretch. Isadore was setting a steady pace as he moved along enjoying a clear lead and at the turn for home had a four-length margin, which jockey E. Smith attempted to keep. Crius and Aglow, after forcing the better part of the pace, had begun to weaken and it was in the stretch before Francesco was able to pass any of his rivals. Unleashing a smart turn of speed, the son of Jacopo and Heloise urged to his company and, smashing his way on by readily overhauling each of the contenders, he was safely in front and going easily under jockey J. Gilbert. The race was run in l:154. The sport was ushered in with a race for older sprinters of the cheapest grade, and it saw three lightly regarded factors in the wagering finishing in the first three posi- Continued on twenty-second page. FRANCESCOJUPERIOR Continued from first page. tions, while the slightly better than even money choice, Barn Stormer, could do no better than finish fourth. Gold Clip set out to make the pace over the fast track and was pursued closest by Pretty Busy. It was well inside the final furlong that Gold Clip faltered and the Miss L. C. White colorbearer was able to forge to the front and was a going-away winner at the end, although having but a half length margin. Golden Key, which finished third, delivered a creditable effort coming from well back to earn his position. Little Argo, consistent sprinter of the Mrs. W. H. Denham stable, became the first triple winner of the meeting, keeping his score unblemished here when defeating a shifty band of sprinters that met under a ,500 claiming tag. in the second race, also over six furlongs. Showing the same, speed that brought two previous triumphs, the five-year-old son of Happy Argo, who was rated second choice in the speculation, came from behind to win at the expense of Cruising, which ruled the speculation, while Patchpocket took third in a tight finish, with Distract, which led the three others in the field of seven. Jockey H. Le Blanc was entrusted with the Mrs. W. H. Denham colt. Minton, an aged unsexed son of Angon and Mint Drop, drove to a thrilling victory at the end of the mile and a sixteenth fifth race. At the finish the Shandon Farms eight-year-old was up in the final stride to earn a head decision over S. S. Sands Hollyhock, while a similar distance away Chief Yeoman was third for G. H. Marlman in a blanket finish. The early pacemaker Church Call was fourth, Koterito, fifth, and Quiet Please trailed the field of the sextet of ,000 top and bottom platers that accepted the engagement. Twelve cheap sprinters of the older class met for honors in the third, which was a split of the first race. Of the dozen members under colors it brought another success to Merrily On, a winner here earlier in the meeting when he led virtually throughout to score in easy fashion. Carrying the silks of D. L. Ogle and ridden by apprentice Eccard, the swift eight-year-old gelding achieved his success by a four-length margin, as My Blonde and Saxopal captured second and third.
