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LATONIA FOOTING SLOW Improvement in Sport Over Thurs ¬ day However Despite Conditions ConditionsVitamin Vitamin B Strong Favorite in Briar BriarCliff Cliff Purse Finishes Last Blessed Again Triumphs LATONIA Ky June 4 Vast improve ¬ ment was noted in the sport at Latonia this afternoon despite the fact that limit fields again performed in the allclaiming race program of eight races The events were more evenly balanced than in the past few days and consequently better racing re ¬ sulted despite the fact that the track was in a slow condition The sun peeped from behind gray clouds at intervals during the afternoon and there was a decided increase in attendance over that of the previous day thus indicating a substantial increase in the mutuel turnover which reached the lowest ebb in history of racing at the Latonia course Thursday ThursdayMost Most prominent of the races offered was the Briar Cliff Claiming Purse which was presented as sixth on the card and held a field of six starters better than the average calibre of thoroughbreds performing in the claiming ranks at present However the result came as a distinct shock when Vita ¬ min B the heavily supported favorite failed to finish ahead of a single horse horseBY BY WIDE MARGIN MARGINBlessed Blessed Again racing for Mrs R J Mur ¬ phy a Evansville Ind patroness romped to a six lengths victory and in doing so carried Willie Lee Johnson to his second score of the day Mrs J C Gillems Red Raider which was in closest attendance of 1 Continued on thirtyeighth page LATONIA FOOTING SLOW Continued from Jirst page the pacemaker throughout had no trouble saving second place by eight lengths over C N Finchs Seven Star at the end of the mile and seventy yards yardsHustled Hustled into a good lead at once Blessed Again never left the result in doubt despite the fact that the daughter of Blue Larkspur Clonast went wide entering the stretch and continued to bear out right down to the finish mark causing Johnson to strike her over the nose several times in an effort to keep her straight straightThe The wagering centered on Vitamin B which ruled an even money choice and after getting away to a fast start the bay horse began dropping back despite the strenuous urging of his rider finally letting go com ¬ pletely to finish in last place in a most disappointing performance Blessed Again was not very highly thought of and as a result rewarded his backers with 2260 for each 2 straight straightOPENER OPENER TO CLASHMAN CLASHMANUnder Under the guidance of jockey Jimmy Goggles McCoy C N Finchs Clashman scored for the talent in the opener a five furlongs sprint for twoyearolds which the bay colt won in a handy manner over Dust Box with Take On next In order at the finish McCoy selected the best footing to guide Clashman and the son of Title Gold Stamp raced Dust Box into defeat in the first half mile taking the lead in the last furlong and gradually increasing his margin under urging to two lengths at the end endC C C Norman saddled his third winner of the meeting in the second race a six fur ¬ longs contest in which Vellas Choice was returned an easy winner over his seven opponents after leading from beginning to end Three lengths in the wake of the winner came Joaney B while Lauretta Jay was third Though it was the Initial appear ¬ ance of the season for the fiveyearold geld ¬ ing Vellas Choice proved his fitness beyond question when he shook off Joaney B after going three furlongs and went about his business of drawing into the clear and reached the finish three lengths in advance of his nearest competitor The winner was somewhat overlooked in the betting paying 2380 2380Favorite Favorite players came back Into their own in tha third event as 0 R Allens Ann Jones triumphed over seven other threeyearolds in the six furlongs dash finishing with a margin of two lengths over Crulia Ariel Gold finished third displaying a good brand I of speed and kept in the best part of the track for the entire trip
