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AURORA BOY NOW HEADS THE AMERICAN JOCKEYS J. E. Oros Wrests Leadership From the Sensational Don Meade Young Apprentice Adds to His Score at Bowie While Meade Is Vacationing High Hedge Outlasts Irish Moon in Close and Hard-Fought Finish BOWIE, Md., April 4. Johnny Oros, the sensational young apprentice lad from Aurora, 111., occupied the spotlight at Prince Georges Park today by riding two winners and thus wresting the lead of the American jockeys from Don Meade, who is vacationing in Florida after his successful return to the saddle. Oros tied Meade on Monday when he piloted two winners, and two more today gave the Illinois youngster the much-coveted honor of heading the American jockey list. His total for the year now is ninety-three, while Meade has ninety-one to his credit. 9 High Hedge, a speedy non-stayer in the stable of H. L. Bowers, made an auspicious 1939 debut as he drove to a head victory in the six furlongs Halcyon Handicap, a Class "C" affair which featured another sunny afternoons competition. The six-year-old son of Tall Timber Moncito was as straight as a string at the winning post as she outlasted Irish Moon, with the public choice, Unselfish, a head farther away. It was the first start for the successful veteran since last summers Agawam meeting, and he displayed the same early speed that marked his best 1938 efforts, in addition to hanging on with unexpected courage under hard pressure through the stretch. He was one of the several surprises of the day, paying slightly better than 13 to 1 in the iron men. Though the skies were bright and sunny the sport left the faithful in anything but a happy frame of mind as choices took a licking in a majority of contests. USES EARLY SPEED. Eddie Smith had High Hedge away winging and made excellent use of that fellows early speed to send him into a two length lead before a quarter had been completed. His charge widened out slightly on the turn but through the stretch had to be driven vigorously with whip, hand and heel, first to put away Unselfish and then Irish Moon. The runner-up, shy on her usual early speed, dropped back to last place in the run along the far side of the stretch and then closed with a belated rush in the last three-sixteenths to be wearing down the winner. She made her run on the inside, while Unselfish was challenging on the outside. The the overland all the -way turning in a thoroughly good effort. Knoxville lacked early speed but finished well, while Little Miracle tired badly after a forward half mile. Red Jack was done early. Royal Teddy put in a corking five furlongs and then collapsed. Morstep never was a contender. HIGH VOTE REGISTERS. High Vote, a Santa Anita campaigner, turned in the briskest six furlongs of the meeting when he completed the distance in 1:13 to gain a neck- decision over the New Orleans campaigner, Polly Hastings, with the public choice, Maecloud, a head farther away. The six-year-old son of High Cloud and Voteress was out to the last ounce to Continued on twenty-second page. AURORA BOY NOW HEADS THE AMERICAN JOCKEYS Continued from first page. gain the award. He was fairly well supported at .65 to . Fels had High Vote away on top from his number one position and drove him into the clear before a furlong had been completed. He took his mount wide turning for home when Polly Hastings moved up on the outside and after a spirited duel the Schwartz plater managed to last long enough to gain the award. The runner-un was close to the ! pace throughout and went up swiftly curving for home to offer the winner a spirited argument, gaining a brief lead in the stretch, and then relinquishing it in the final yards. Maecloud broke slowly and was badly outpaced for the first three furlongs. She saved ground turning for home and moved up rapidly along the rail, only to be completely blocked in the last sixteenth. Ugin had speed, but tired badly, while Careful Miss needed the race. OROS TO THE FORE. John Oros became the nations leading rider when he drove Hirsch Jacobs Nicholas S. to a head victory in the opening six furlongs claimer for three-year-olds. It was the ninety-second score of 1939 for the Illinois apprentice and placed him one in front of Don Meade, the former leader. His mount just managed to outstay the swiftly closing Grand Pageant with Cackle Time three lengths away as he earned third money. There was no great demand for the successful son of Supremus and Light Rose even though he had won his previous start over the track. Cackle Time had the speed to chase the winner for the greater part of the trip, only tiring in the last eighth. He had no opposition for third money. Oros made his score two in a row by booting J. Kugelmans Pascua to a length victory in the mile and seventy yards claiming race for three-year-olds which was second on the program. The daughter of Sortie Easter gained the award by a sharp stretch rally, one which enabled her to wear down the public choice, Geodesian, in the last hundred yards. Five lengths back, the pacemak-ing Bing Bong staggered home a head in advance of Gimpey. White Sand, colorbearer of the A. C. C. Stable, struck the first blow of the afternoon for form followers as he galloped to a handy triumph in the mile and one-sixteenth claiming race which was sixth on the card. Confidently handled by Shelhamer, the five-year-old daughter of St. Germans Zelida passed the judges a length and one-half in front of Trina, with Weekly Stipend four lengths I farther away. The winners time of 1:48 i marked a good race over the track. She was ! given confident support by the faithful, rul-jing an ll-to-10 choice.
