view raw text
SEPARATED BY INCHES -Proverbial Blanket Finish Marks Main Race at Tropical Park. Highomar Earns Camera Decision From Black River and Noel H. After - Exciting and Spectacular Race. CORAL GABLES, Fla., Dec. 20 The Hollywood Purse, at six furlongs, fashioned for platers of the better sort, provided the -most thrilling finish of the young Tropical Park meeting when Highomar staged a sensational rally through the stretch to be up in - time to snatch a camera decision from Black River, with Gayset just, a nose off the runner-up and Noel H., another head away. The proverbial blanket would have covered the first half dozen at the finish of todays feature attraction so closely were they bunched. However, the colorbearer of Mrs. B. F. Whitaker, was going swiftest of all, under a powerful ride from Eddie Arcaro and, with a trifle farther to go, would have been in the clear. Sharp training trials caused the five- " year-old son of High Cloud and Gay Omar to be in greatest demand among those speculatively inclined, ruling a 19 to 10 choice in the machines and providing the third favorite of the day to register. Floridas usual perfect weather again was . in evidence and while there was a considerable slump in attendance following the record crowd of the opening day, the gathering was up to best off-day standards. The turnover in the mutuel department also held up well. ARCAROS VIGOROUS FINISH. An even dozen went to the post in the Hollywood Purse and backers of Highomar would have sold their tickets for a trifling sum at the three furlongs post, where his cause appeared a hopeless one. In fact, he did not seem to have a chance for any part of the money at the top of the stretch but, from the furlong post to the judges, he fairly flew on the outside of the field, driven by Arcaro vith all the vigor the veteran could command. In the last sixty yards he broke into the picture with startling abruptness and from that point home was running over the leaders. Black River, perfectly placed while Gayset and Noel H. were battling for the lead, came around the pair in the stretch and under extreme pressure wore down both in the last few yards. However, the rush of Highomar proved too much for the Black Servant gelding. Gayset had the speed which marked his best races and only faltered in the final strides, after cutting out a busy pace. Still, the final time was not much, the figures of 1:13 being three-fifths of a second slower than the mark hung out by the ,250 top and bottom plater, Isaiah, in the earlier dash. FALTERS NEAR END. Noel H. was much used forcing the pace of Gayset and faltered in the last sixty yards. Pordina raced evenly to be fifth at the finish while Septime, Wise Counsel and Rushaway all performed far below their best races. Bahamas, an ancient son of Bon Homme, - in the Oaktree Stable, which picks up sufficient purses each year to pay his way, proved best of the platers in the six furlongs opener, driving to a half length victory over Bartering Kate, with Sunset Girl slightly more than two lengths away. E. Smith had the veteran away fast from his outside position at the post and he attended closely the Continued on fifteenth page. i 1 - SEPARATELY INCHES Continued from first page. pace of Town Car, taking command on the turn and readily withstanding the stretch bid of Bartering Kate. He was a slight choice at 5 to 2. Bartering Kate worked her way into contention on the inside during the back stretch run and then came around the winner turning for home. Under pressure she was unable to wear him down. Sunset Girl and Moss Gal finished fairly well. ISAIAH HOT FAVORITE. In the "Daily Double," combined with Isaiah, a hot favorite for the second, the pairing paid 4.20. Isaiah looked all over the safest hazard of the afternoon and so he proved, though many weakened when they saw the little-experienced Bateman, a lad with a single winner to his credit, in the saddle. This youth broke the High Time son off on top and held him there for the full trip. At the end the Arcturus Stable color-bearer was three and a half lengths in front of Whisper with Story Time another length and a half back. His final time of 1:12 marked a keen race for a ,250 plater, Nine-o-Two, a gelded son of Sweep By and Purple Iris, which was making his first appearance under colors, graduated from the maiden ranks in the six furlongs of the third, fashioned for juvenile non-winners, as he took a nose decision from Coronado, with Pascua, the public choice, a length farther away. Donoso had Nine-o-Two away forwardly, driving him into a short advantage in the first quarter, a lead to which he hung with great tenacity. First he had to put away Cambreeze and then Coronado was hard at him from the three furlongs post, as the pair raced closely lapped. In their final duel through the stretch, the son of Sweep By proved gamer than the Sun Beau colt. The latter had no apparent excuse. USEFUL HI CLIFF. Hi Cliff, a useful son of Carlaris and High Orpheline, which races under the colors of Mrs. L. M. Greene, proved decidedly best of the three-year-old sprinters named for the six furlongs of the fourth. As the New Eng-lander rounded out this journey in 1:12, he was two lengths in front of the pacemaking Lady Infinite, with the latter being driven out to be just clear of Play Gold. It was the third score of 1938 for Hi Cliff, his first being registered at Hialeah Park in February. Rollins had Hi Cliff away rapidly and he joined the pacemaking Lady Infinite after Lady Orchid faded out of contention. He was lapped on that miss as they made the turn, coming around her in the stretch and away to a decisive victory. Ronnie Nash rode the runner-up vigorously but to no avail as she simply could not handle her chief male rival. The finish saw her a mighty tired miss. Play Gold was shy on early speed but finished well, as did Panorascope, which walked away from the post. Prowl ran below top Maryland form and then moved into another stablq when claimed by Joseph McKeever for ,000. J
