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STROUBE COLT SCORES Sirasia Triumphs in Mud in Initial Tropical Appearance. Fourth Favorite of Day to Finish in Front Would Dare and Bala-pin in Dead Heat. CORAL GABLES, Fla., Dec. 28. Sirasia, making his initial appearance of the winter, experienced no great difficulty in leading half a dozen juveniles over six furlongs in the Key West Purse, feature of a sunny afternoons sport at Tropical Park. Over a muddy track, one which had been thoroughly soaked by the rains of last night and this morning, W. C. Stroubes colt raced the distance in 1:14 to score by three lengths, with Billabong closing steadily under the whip to take second place from Hazel F. by a half length. The Texan, a son of Sir Gallahad HI. Anastasia, was making his fifth public appearance in this race, which resulted in his second victory. Running coupled with Pit Terrier, his keen training trials caused the combine to rule a 9-to-10 favorite after a couple of the principal overnight entrants defaulted due to changing track conditions. Shy on early speed, Sirasia finished stoutly when Joe Rosen called closing like a colt that will go on. FAVORITES FARE WELL. The score marked the fourth of the afternoon for a favorite, though one of the quartet Would Dare participated in a dead heat with Balapin, the first of the meeting. The muddy track did not prevent a close observance of form. Only seven started, with Sirasia being outrun during the first quarter, while Hazel F. and Pit Terrier battled for the lead. Rosen sent the bay colt up swiftly on the outside making the turn and he readily disposed of Hazel F., drawing away from his company once the home stretch was reached. Billabong was an early dullard, but he finished with good courage under intermittent punishment in the final quarter. Hazel F. had plenty of early speed and simply tired, while Arcaro did not abuse Pit Terrier when he saw his charge was beaten, with the other member of the entry swinging in front. The three remaining contestants were outclassed. SPECTACULAR FINISH. Three noses on the post in the six furlongs claimer which was the days secondary attraction caused the judges to study the photo finish with considerable care before they finally gave the award to Patsey Begone, Continued on sixteenth page. STROUBEJMT SCORES Continued from first page. with Wha Hae gaining second place over Escohigh. The successful Lucullite Capture mare closed swiftly on the outside to run 1 over the leaders right at the end and, with a trifle farther to go, she would have been in the clear. There was only slight demand for the colorbearer of J. Y. Pyle, which closed lat 7 to 1, with Wha Hae best fancied of he field. Arcaro rode his second winner of the afternoon when he booted Mrs. E. D. Jacobs General Howes to a driving victory in the six furlongs juvenile claimer which was sixth on the card. A length away City Judge was a gamely closing second half a length in advance of Chance Watch, with Handiboy a tiring fourth. It was the first start since August for the Black Servant Conquest gelding but the little Brooklyn trainer had him dead fit. Well supported in the machines at .90 to 1, he scored in clean cut fashion. Wrenace gave the Larch Hill Stable its fourth victory of the meeting when Arcaro j drove the son of Grandace and Miss Wren past the judges half a length in advance of Espinaca, with West Sea four lengths away . . as he took third money from Bareback by a wide margin. It was the second score in i ! as many local chances for Freddy Hopkins charge, which ruled favorite over seven rivals in this mile and a furlong test. Arcaro did not hurry Wrenace in the early stages, the gelding dropping far off the pace and failing to loom as a contender until after leaving the half mile ground. Then he moved up swiftly to circle Espinaca at the top of the stretch and wear down that veteran after a bitter drive. West Sea, favored by light weight, turned in a steady effort, while the showing of Bareback was too bad to be true. I Roberts went from a pull to a drive on the Bud Lerner gelding, which was beaten before half the trip had been completed. FINISH ON EVEN TERMS. Would Dare, public choice in the mile and a furlong of the second, a split of the preceding claimer, raced to a dead heat with Balapin in the first finish of this sort during 1 the meeting. The first named closed stoutly I to gain a split of the purse, while the other was hanging through the last fifty yards, j 1 Six lengths away, Rebel Yell took third , money by a wide patch of daylight. In the , I pay-off the favorite was even money, with! the other 2 to 1. j Huff restrained Balapin during the early stages as his mount galloped along in closest attendance to the pace of Albuquerque. He sent his charge up swiftly going to the far turn and off to a handy lead. In the last eighth he had to bear down on the Olambala gelding as Would Dare made his run, with the six-year-old faltering slightly right at the end. Would Dare, a distant early trailer, , had to close a tremendous gap to gain a . split decision. The well supported Rebel Yell did not run to stable expectations.
