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JOHNSTOWN CLOSE TO A NEW WORLDS RECORD JOHNSTOWN QUALIFIES FOR WOOD And Strengthens Claim as Public Choice for Kentucky Derby. Runs Mile and Seventy Yards for New Track Mark of 1:40, Just a Fraction Short of Best Time. JAMAICA, N. Y., April 25. Johnstown, racing beyond a sprinting distance for the first time in his career, qualified in handsome fashion for the Wood Memorial and also strengthened his claim to Kentucky Derby favoritism when he hung out. a new track record in the Woodhaven Purse, the mile and seventy yards condition event which featured todays competition at the Metropolitan Jockey Club track. Eased up through the final furlong, the bay son of Jamestown La France sped the distance in 1:40 to cut two-fifths of a second from the fourteen-year-old mark of Sting as he passed the judges half a dozen lengths in advance of Lovely Night. William Woodwards colt also was within a fifth of a second of the worlds record for the odd distance, held jointly by Mike Hall and Chasar. Six lengths back of the runner-up, Eight Thirty had no opposition for third money from War Moon, the only other starter. The winner, after opening at the prohibitive price of 2 to 5, was backed down to 1 to 3 at post time and, like that sort of a favorite, his leadership was never seriously questioned. UNDER RESTRAINT. The bearer of the white and red dotted silks, made famous by Gallant Fox, Omaha and Granville, was under wraps for practically the entire journey but he was moving along at a speedy clip, nevertheless. This was proven by the fractional time. He covered the first quarter in :23, half in :46, three-quarters in 1:11 and the mile in 1:37. Pace of this sort had his company well beaten before the home stretch was reached, and Jimmy Stout had only to "coast" from the head of the lane to the winning post. Eight Thirty, runner-up in the 1938 Futurity and highly-rated among the three-year-old possibilities of the present season, was making his 1939 debut in this event. He was in closest pursuit of the winner for practically the full journey, though tailing off in the final three-sixteenths. The race should do him much good, but he hardly can be rated formidable in Saturdays Wood Memorial. It was his public final for that stake also. LOVELY NIGHT OUTPACED. Lovely Night, another Wood candidate, was badly outpaced early, but finished in game style when driven hard in the final quarter. He had no difficulty taking second place. War Moon simply was outclassed. The Calverton Handicap, a gallop of a mile and a furlong for class "C" performers, resulted in a good contest, in which the silks of Mrs. J. Hertz scored their initial triumph of the meeting, when Count dOr led from end to end. He won with something to spare over the Wheatley Stables Oversight, while Mrs. C. Oliver Iselins Strabo was a handy third over Landlubber. The only other starter was Strolling By and he was a bad last. William H. Berris Early Evening raced as though pounds the best of the band of sprint- Continued on twenty-seventh page. JOHNSTOWN CLOSE TO A NEW WORLDS RECORD Continued from first page. ers that met in the opening six furlongs dash. She won by a wide margin over Sure Lad, as That One took third from Ferry Boat. Early Evening was always the choice, going to the post at 9 to 10 and she was ridden by Joey Wagner. US GRADUATES. Us, a juvenile daughter of American Flag Mixed Party, racing for her breeder, William H. Gallagher, was winner of the second, a five furlongs dash for maiden fillies. Scurry, from the Wheatley Stable, raced to the place, and Small World, the favorite, thaTbore the colors of the Manhasset Stable, saved third from Pink Gal. Joey Wagner completed a riding double when he brought A. C. Norris Guy Fawkes home the winner of the Salonga Handicap, a six furlongs dash for class "C" horses. The son of Happy Time was taking down his second purse of the meeting and when he was timed in 1:11 he ran one of the fastest races of the meeting. Always favorite and going to the post at 6 to 5, the Norris sprinter, under 122 pounds, was giving away lumps of weight to every other starter. Deep End raced to the place and at the end he was doing his best to withstand the determined challenge of the honest old mare Rust, which was making Tier first appearance of the year.
