view raw text
DARK WATCH WINS IN MUD AT HAVRE DE GRACE A. : A - Hockley Derby Eligible Pressed Hard by Filly in Purse Race Blazing Heat Disappoints Maryland Fans by Finishing Third Mystic Isle, Rose Baby and Spartan Lady at Home in Bad Footing HAVRE DE GRACE, Md., April 17. Uncovering his best speed over a racing strip that was left in muddy condition from continuous rains for the past two days, Chester F. Hockleys Dark Watch, an eligible for the Kentucky Derby, accounted for the best race on the second program of the Harford Agricultural and Breeders Association. He took premier honors in the Hampton Roads Purse today. Opposed by nine other three-year-olds and the only one in the large field named for the Blue Grass event to be run May 6, the brown son of On Watch proved his mettle to be a driving winner of the contest. He hardly measures up to Derby caliber, however, when he finished the distance under a furious drive to be one length in advance of Mrs. M. Nelson Bonds Sure Miss at the close of the race, run in 1:48. Listed in fifth position on the program that was decided under wet conditions, the principal offering found the different starters ranging in. selling price from ,500 to ,500, and it found Blazing Heat enjoying most support, finishing third for Mrs. A. Pelleteri to take the measure of Romaunt and the six others. DISAGREEABLE WEATHER. The disagreeable weather of the afternoon kept the attendance down considerably but the entertainment was exciting and racing formful. In the best race there was a two and one-half minute delay at the gate before the ten starters left and while Blazing Heat was first out of the sails, it found Romaunt and Dark Watch speeding past the Pelleteri filly to be leading the way early. On the back stretch Romaunt led the way to Dark Watch by a clear margin while Blazing Heat and Sure Miss went along before the others. Romaunt was in the van until reaching the final turn and all of the time Dark Watch raced along at his heels and on the inside. With the back stretch completed Sure Miss went up to dispute the lead and on reaching the front stretch managed to drive into a short lead. Dark Watch, however, was right with the pair and by virtue of saving ground, came along steadily until he was in command for the last sixteenth. BELLE HIGH GRADUATES. Eleven two-year-olds were engaged for the four and one-half furlong sprint that opened the card, and it gave Belle High, from the Millsdale Stable, her graduation diploma in her second appearance under silks. She turned back her opponents after a drive. In the thick of contention during the early stages of the race, the daughter of High Strung surged past Spout Run, the early pacemaker, when the front stretch was reached and, under a stiff drive, was a length to the good at the end. Spout Run saved second place after setting most of the pace, and Macs Cantor was third before the disappointing favorite, Sealoch. Jockey C. Stevenson rode the winner. The first disqualification of the young season in Maryland took place in the decision of the second race when, after being returned winner for Mrs. E. Hackney, Tony Steel was set back for committing a stretch foul after beating the favorite Match Point by a head. This was a dash of six furlongs Continued on twenty-eighth page. DARK WATCH WINS IN MUD AT HAVRE DE GRACE Continued from first page. that attracted eight starters, and it developed into a two-horse contest when the leading pair was five lengths before J. W. Y. Martins Maroc. LARGEST FTELD. The largest field of the afternoon included a dozen maiden three-year-olds that met in the third race, another dash at six furlongs. Rose Baby graduated from the non-winning ranks for the Bomar Stable. The score took place over Flying Lark, a member of the Mrs. R. S. Davis stable, which raced grouped as a fielder, and third went to Soaring High when he led home the others, that included the disappointing Anticosti. Mrs. A. Pelleteris Mystic Isle was another successful favorite of the afternoon to make an accounting for the talent when she turned in a front-running and popular victory in the mile and one-sixteenth fourth race. With the starters, all of the three-year-old class, Mystic Isle ruled a strong choice and captured honors in a drive to be a length and one-half before Helens Lad at the close.
