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WHITAKER STABLE WINS FIFTH TROPICAL PURSE QUASIMODO VICTORIOUS Matecumba Purse Latest Triumph of Popular Establishment. Eddie Arcaro Adds to Margin Over Rival Riders at Florida Track Brisk Weather. MIAMI, Fla., Dec. 23. Quasimodo, fleet veteran sprinter, scored the fifth victory of the young Tropical Park meeting for the Whitaker establishment when he galloped to a hollow triumph in the Matecumba Purse, principal event on the afternoo.is program at the Coral Gables course. Eddie Arcaro, the leading rider hereabouts, had an easy task astride the seven-year-old son of Leonardo II. and Ann Earn for his mount always held his eight rivals safe. The winner went the distance in 1:115s to be four lengths in advance of Black River at the winning post. The latter had to be driven out to save the place from Faust lby a head margin, with Mansco closing steadily to be a length farther away. The score marked the third straight and the fourth of 1938 for the Texan, who was one of the best supported choices of the day at 23 to 20. Never did his backers have cause for anxiety. ATTENDANCE GOOD. With the weather continuing a bit brisk . for beach activities, there was another excel-? lent off-day gathering with the mutuel handle holding up well, though it remains slightly below the average for the first five days of the winter meeting of 1937. Arcaro had Quasimodo clear of his company before an eighth of a mile had been completed, and he took the big gelding un- j dcr restraint making the turn. At the top of the stretch, he shook up B. F. Whitakera colorbearer, and that fellow bounded away I from his company to score with plenty to spare. Black River, off alertly and perfectly placed for the first half mile, was under intermittent punishment thereafter. He never was able to threaten the flying leader and at the end was ridden out to beat Faust. , The latter, shy on early speed, finished with a rush along the rail and would have I been second in a few more strides. Mansco, , hard urged throughout by Yarberry, had I no apparent excuse. Wise Counsel put in I another dull race. Count Valiant was nicely sharpened for a distance race. ARCARO DOUBLE. Eddie Arcaro brought his score for the afternoon to a double when the Medway Stables Motley raced to a two and a half length victory in the principal distance race on the i program. The finish for the place was a close one, with Sir Reg finishing swiftly to nose the pacemaking Copper Tube out of that award. The winner was third choice in the mutuel speculation, showing 4 to 1. The six-year-old son of Hourless and Queen of Wenonah put in a steady race when he traveled the distance in 1:52 3, going away from his company at the finish. Sir Reg, an early trailer, came from last place at the three furlongs post to pass all but the winner. He was going great guns at the end. Copper Tube, which has won most of his races by rating off the pace, opened up a long lead on his company in the first quarter mile and only romped along on the front end until Motley challenged. Zorana showed her old-time liking for "the Tropical "ark by scampering to victory in her winters debut, which came in the initial Continued on seventeenth page. 1 j WHITAKER STABLE WINS FIFTH TROPICAL PURSE Continued from first page. six furlongs claimer. There, Calvin had her just clear of Spittenimage as she completed the trip in 1:12 with the latter slightly more than a length in advance of Candar, the public choice. The winner was well fancied by his connections as may be judged from the mutuel payoff of 3.60. The Kentucky filly Woodsia carried the colors of banker J. W. Parrish to a driving triumph in the six furlongs claimer, which was second on the card, limited to members of the three-year-old division. At the end the home-bred daughter of Rolled Stocking and Rosewood was a head in advance of the pacemaking Blue Grotto, as she finished the distance in 1:12. Play Gold was half a length away. Clever trials caused her to rule the public choice at 23 to 20. Ideal Fungi, another Kentucky campaigner which is handled by Dave "Bay Horse" Shaw, carried the silks of M. Reiser to a head victory over Gold Dart in the six furlongs juvenile claimer which was third on the card, with the tiring Jockys Betsy just another head away. The daughter of Apprehension and Fairy Ring was badly outpaced during the early stages, while Denote, Jocks Betsy and Weebag were battling for the lead, well in advance of the others. She came around Jocks Betsy in the stretch after the other two faded out of contention, to wear her down and then withstand the belated rush of Gold Dart. The winner was lightly fancied showing 5.90 in the machines. Kens Mom, favored by a fast getaway, made all the running ia the six furlongs of the fourth, a split of the preceding event, to pass the judges a length in front of the public choice, Chicharra, with Taut in third place, a like margin away. The daughter of Pennant and Eclipse Was lightly regarded in a field of eleven, paying 3.25 to , Kf. U f t J J1JJJ J If.
