Derby Hopes Meet Defeat: Heelfly and Case Ace Beaten in Principal Races at Arlington Downs, Daily Racing Form, 1937-04-12

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DERBY HOPES MEET DEFEAT Heelfly and Case Ace Beaten in Principal Races at Arlington Downs. First Mentioned Third to Robert I and Mars Shield Reaping Winner of Blue Bonnet Handicap. ARLINGTON, Texas, April 10. The third running of the Blue Bonnet Handicap, the feature of todays program at Arlington Downs, virtually eliminated the speedy Case Ace as a potential threat for either the Texas or Kentucky Derby, the Milky Way Farm star suffering defeat, finishing unplaced, while Mrs. A. M. Creechs four-year-old Reaping triumphed over Boston Sound and Leading Article, two other older horses. The overthrow of CAse Ace followed the unexpected reverse of the popular Heelfly, another well thought-of Derby candidate. However, Heelfly only lost by inches and may regain the prominence he enjoyed before todays event. Case Ace was soundly beaten, finishing fifth without threatening at any stage of the contest. The crowd vied with other record turnouts. Long before the first race, the stands were filled and the overflow fairly jammed the lawns and terraces. With Dallas and Fort Worth more than furnishing their usual quotas and such faraway points as Houston, San Antonio, Midland and Corsicana well represented, it gave evidence that the sport has many loyal supporters. The racing strip was in its best condition since the opening, and spring weather prevailed. BEAUTIFUL SCENE. The fair sex were bedecked In their spring regalia, and with flowers blossoming in the center field the plant presented a beautiful picture. Texas and Kentucky Derby hopes for three Ds Stock Farms Heelfly took a slight tumble in the Trial Purse when the homebred son of Royal Ford and Canfli finished third to Bedford Stock Farms Robert L., the rank outsider, and Milky Way Farms Mars Shield at the end of one mile and seventy yards. There remained some solace for E. Paul and Guy L. Waggoner, his owners, for the colt was only beaten by a nose and half of a length and Leon "Buddy" Haas did not put the colt to strong pressure when he began tiring in the final furlong. While Mars Shield, the only filly in the race, was not named for the Kentucky classic, she demonstrated that she might make it interesting in the local fixture for her effort today was a splendid one considering that she worked a fast nine furlongs Friday morning. BAD POST ACTOR. After his customary unruly tactics, Heelfly began slowly, but Haas had him in a clear lead before entering the back stretch. Play Pal was in second place and Robert L. was showing the way to the others. Nearing the final half-mile, where Heelfly had widened on his field, Robert L. moved into second place, but Alfred Robertson was bringing Mars Shield up fast on the outside and he had her in front approaching the final quarter. Heelfly refused to give up and he raced head and head with Mars Shield, which was under strong urging to the final stages where Robert L. came on to gain a nose verdict. After dropping out of early contention, Eastport was taken to the inside for the drive and lasted to beat Brown Prodigy for fourth laurels. With the exception of Play Pal, which stopped badly after five furlongs and Sun Pilot, which weakened after reaching contention, the others showed little. Robert L. carried 112 pounds, two less than the topweighted Eastport and one more than Heelfly. Mars Shield carried 110 pounds, three of which were overweight. Robert L. paid 9.50 for each straight. With the exception of Play Pal, the other three-year-olds are eligible for the Texas Derby For the second straight time, Mrs. Sam Orr"s Metaurus and jockey Alfred Robertson proved a winning combination in the first race when the aging son of Sir Barton came to the end of six and one-half furlongs a half length before Roberta, which led Sir Thomas by a length and one-half for second. Alwintour was fourth. Far back while Alwintour, Lunsford and Roberta showed the way to the final furlong, the winner drove down on the outside of Clarify when he took command and in a driving finish he outgamed Roberta. A disappointment came with the second race, also at six and one-half furlongs, when the. heavily supported Knights Fancy finished second to Fred Turner, Jr.s Bagen May. Imperial Maryan was third. Away slowly and lucky to find room on the outside when improving her position, Bagen May drove to the front entering the stretch and, drawing clear rapidly, reached the finish a length before the favorite, which raced far back for a half mile. Imperial Maryan was always a factor and but for being in close quarters in the stretch probably would have been closer at the end. Tricky Miss, Parva Stella and High Mabel, which dominated the pace for a half mile, weakened thereafter. Outsiders made a clean sweep of the Pan-American Exposition Sports Department Purse and third race, when S. Matthews improved Erech, Beginners Bait and Pompous Genie led five others including the favorite, Carl B. and the well supported Proposing and Euxine, to the end of a mile and a sixteenth. Erech was rushed to the front but Beginners Bait raced with him throughout and the winner only lasted to beat Beginners Bait by a nose at the end. The latter was a neck before the fast finishing Pompous Genie, which beat Proposing by two lengths for minor honors. The Texas-bred Buck-On won his second straight victory and furnished a popular score when he led Joe D., a "fielder," Soaring Witch and eight other plater juveniles to the end of four furlongs in the fourth race. Taking command at once from his inside position, the winner, which was ridden by Henry Hauer made every post a winning one, to be a length before Joe D. at the end. The latter, hustled along throughout, enjoyed the same advantage over Soaring Witch which beat the tiring Westys Hero by a head for minor honors. While Sister Polly showed nothing after being shuffled back soon after the break. Miss Monte, which also came in for good support was unable to improve her position.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1930s/drf1937041201/drf1937041201_11_1
Local Identifier: drf1937041201_11_1
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800