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MENOW WINS WITHERS Turns in Brilliant Performance With Milein1:372/5. Third Score of the Afternoon for Hal Price Headley — Red Rain Wins Steeplechase by Nose. NEW YORK, N. Y., May 21.— Menow, pacemaker in the Kentucky Derby and Preak-ness, found the mile of the Withers vastly more to his liking and carried his speed to a successful conclusion in the sixty-second renewal of the three-year-old stake, which was todays principal attraction at Belmont Park. At the end Charlie Kurtsinger was easing the son of Pharamond II. and Alci-biades as his mount passed the judges two lengths in advance of the courageously closing Thanksgiving, with the weary Redbreast four lengths further away. It was a brilliant performance when the bay colt covered the distance in 1:37% to score with consummate ease and speed to spare, thereby giving Hal Price Headley a triple. The three-ply triumph was started in the opener by the lightly regarded Superlee with the heavily backed Drift Along being Beaumont Farms second winner. The latter, like Menow, was an odds-on choice. The Withers winner opened and closed at 3 to 5, plenty of money showing any time he drifted higher than that quotation. It was his first major stake of 1938 to go his way, adding 5,000 to his considerable juvenile earnings. Incidentally, it was his third stake appearance at Belmont Park and he remains unbeatable at that grounds, having won the Futurity and Champagne Stakes last fall. 18,000 PRESENT. A crowd of 18,000 cheered Menow mildly as he raced through the fcont lane, for, while he was a strong public choice, the result of the race was evident at the head of the stretch. The Charles L. Appleton Memorial Cup Steeplechase gave the throng a greater thrill, this being the best contested brush race of the meeting with the result in doubt uni.il the final stride. Menow did not break with wonted rap-dity, but Kurtsinger hustled him smartly to gain command before a furlong had been completed. The Kentuckian moved along with his usual frictionless stride to kill off Battle Jack by the time a half-time had been completed, and then drew away to a four-length lead on the turn. This advantage he maintained right down to the furlong pole and then his pilot, seeing all behind him were groggy, coasted to the sixteenth mark, easing his mount from that point to the winning post. RED PEPPER POPULAR. Red Pepper, heaviest backed horse in the race, aside from the winner, showed just a flash of early speed, being well beaten before half the journey had been completed. Cattistock and Sun Alexandria never were serious factors, while Battle Jack quit utterly after attempting to go with Menow. Red Rain unquestionably was best at the weights in the Appleton Memorial and his margin victory over Sailor Beware would have been more than a nose only for a bad landing three jumps from the finish, which Continued on thirty-fourth page. J MENOW WINS WITHERS Continued from first page. almost unseated jockey Scruton. The five-year-old son of Pennant and Dustemall showed considerable courage over the mishap to come on again and be up in the final stride. He was rated nicely off the pace for the first mile and a quarter and was going to the leaders when he made his bobble. Scruton made a rapid recovery to bring his charge into contention again approaching : the final hazard, and the Gwladys Whitney ! colorbearer finished with rare determination , under punishment. From a time standpoint | the race was not so much when he complet- I ed the about two-mile route in 3:463. j The contest was a stirring one from flag I fall to finish and two jumps from home every one of the half dozen contestants ap- ! pcai ed to hold a winning chance. In the last eighth the representatives of two branches of the Whitney family drew away from the others. SECOND VICTORY. The second score for the Hal Price Head-ley silks came when Drift Along was a galloping winner over the three-year-old fillies that met in the six furlongs fourth race. The daughter of Supremus had no trouble leading home Rissa, from the Howe Stable, and Tea Leaves, bearing the silks of the Sage Stable, took third from Hostile. There came a call for the camera in the opening four and one-half furlongs dash for maiden juvenile fillies, when Hal Prince Headleys Superlee, in a game finish, ran down Bold Fay, from the Millsdalo Stable, to be winner by a short nose. Far back of the battling pair, William F. Hitts Sun Girl outfinished Rose Baby to take third position.
