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f Here and There on the Turf Esposa Tops Continental Field Btill Lea, Idle Miss to Start Volitant After Johnson Stakes Xalapa Clown Displays Courage 1 Feature of the Metropolitan Jockey Clubs autumn meeting and most important event on Saturdays program anywhere, is the Continental Handicap, which is something more than a modest affair with 0,000 being added by the Metropolitan Jockey Club, and, in keeping with these distinctions, promises to attract a smart field from among the twenty-eight weighted by John B. Campbell. Topping the imposts at 126 pounds is Esposa, the hardy six-year-old daughter of Espino and Quick Batter, by Runantell, in the stable of William Zeigler, Jr., and, although she is being asked to shoulder three pounds above the scale, her appearance in the starting field is expected. Rated second to Esposa and placed below her for the first time this season, is Marica, whose disappointing efforts in the Narragansett Special and Havre de Grace Handicap have caused her to lose some of her following. In reality, Menow is at the top of the Continental weights, at 124 pounds, four over the three-year-old scale, but the Hal Price Headley colt, whose plans included the Jamaica race, broke down so badly in the Havre de Grace that he is through with racing forever. Maricas Continental status is doubtful, so the next best candidate after Esposa, considering the weights, is Bull Lea, at 119 pounds. Calumet Farm had expected to depend on Count Morse for the mile and one-sixteenth race, but that veteran was injured in his recent effort at Belmont Park, and so may be expected to rely on the more capable three-year-old. Thanksgiving, three-time stake winner at Saratoga, including the Travers, has been training steadily and Mrs. Parker Comings colt may accept his assignment of 118, after having been an absentee since the Narragansett Special. Of the other eligibles to the Continental, Idle Miss not only is expected to be a starter, but a troublemaker as well. The four-year-old daughter of Distraction and Misleading, Continued on thirty-seventh fiage. HERE AND THERE ON THE TURF Continued from second page. which has been handicapped at 116, is fresh from her clever triumph oyer Jacola, Handcuff and other capable fillies and mares in the Ladies Handicap, in which she shouldered 123 pounds. Cant Wait is another probability, as is Fair Stein, Rougish Girl and Rust, but a trio that will not be present is Fighting Fox, Isolater and Anaflame, all from the Belair Stud stable. William Woodward instructed James Fitzsimmons to retire them for the season, which is the reason Isolater failed to start in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, and Anaflame declined the issue in the Ladies Handicap. The Jockey Club chairman thought they had done enough campaigning for the year. Another fine race is in prospest, in the Richard Johnson Stakes, Saturdays principal offering at Laurel, as some of the better juveniles will seek top money in this ,000 added dash of six furlongs. Eight Thirty and Johnstown both are eligible to the Johnson, and their presence would add much to the affair, but even if they dont start, many other capable youngsters are eligible and pointing for it. Volitant, an unbeaten colt until narrowly beaten by El Chico in the Junior Champion Stakes, has been shipped to Laurel especially for the Johnson, and the Saratoga Stable colt will be confronted by such worthy juveniles as Time Alone, winner of the Eastern Shore! Handicap, and a close second to Porters Mite in his only two starts, and Yale o Nine, which recently uncovered a bristling six furlongs effort. j Xalapa Clown appears to be the best of the juveniles uncovered so far for Mrs. Bessie Franzheim by trainer A. C. Dettwiler, although several of the other youngsters he has sent postward have shown fine promise. The black son of Eternal and Loma-Linda, by My Play, is a product of Edward F. Simms spacious Xalapa Farm, as are the others sporting the Franzheim silks. In his first outing, he defeated a good field of maidens at Aqueduct, and he came back Tuesday to outgame some capable youngsters at Jamaica. Although encountering no end of trouble during the opening three furlongs of his race, Xalapa Clown fought his way into the clear and then continued his courageous forward march to wear down Sea Captain for the victory. It may be unfortunate that Xalapa Clown lacks stake engagements, as he appears of the improving sort.
