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AFFAIR FINALLY GRADUATES Manfusos Derby Candidate Qualifies in Modesty Purse at Havre. Leads From Start to Finish Under Johnny Adams Energetic Ride to Romp Home by Safe Margin. HAVRE DE GRACE, Md., April 27.— Beaten twice in two previous starts this season, John A. Manfusos Kentucky Derby eligible Affair finally graduated from the maiden ranks and boosted his stock for a probable start in the Blue Grass classic when he accounted for the mile and seventy yards of the Modesty Purse, an allowance contest for three-year-olds that was the fifth and best offering at Havre de Grace. Meeting five opponents of his age, including Brandywine Stables Guyencourt, another eligible for Americas premier event, the son of Osculator — Sand Dust led from start to finish over a muddy racing strip to achieve his success in easy style under the handling of jockey Johnny Adams. He reached the finish three lengths in advance of Mrs. A. Pelleteris Blazing Heat, and his performance was by far the best that he has shown this spring. In third place came Tanganyika, eleven lengths back of the two leaders, while Guyencourt gave no indication of being, of Derby caliber when he was another five lengths back but leading home Blaze-around and Fictitious, the only other starters. WEAK CHALLENGE. Affair met one weak challenge in the contest before he was returned winner. He assumed command going to the first turn to draw into a lead of two lengths on the far side of the track, after which he remained on the head end. after shaking off the weak challenge of Blazing Heat midway of the last curve. On the final bend, Blazing Heat, in third position early, went up smoothly to engage the J. A. Manfuso colt, but the son of Osculator shook off the threat without much effort to dominate until the close. Blazing Heat, in saving the place, had eight lengths to spare over Tanganyika, while Guyencourt was beaten another five lengths for third. While the crowd was a good one, considering overhead conditions, the racing again brought many surprises. Throughout the afternoon, a misty haze hung over the track that was deep in mud. MARYLAND-FOALED RACE. Two-year-olds foaled in Maryland met in the introductory offering at four and one-half furlongs, and it gave J. W. Y. Martins shifty gelding, Abrasion, his second consecutive victory in as many starts when he ruled a strong choice and dominated in easy style. It was the first time during the present meeting that the public started off on the right foot, and it was a popular triumph when the son of Canter reached the finish winner by five lengths. Going to the front at the start, Abrasion displayed much aiblity in the stiff mud and reached the end before Balky Fox, from the Mrs. G. Fox barn, while Molasses Julia, from the W. L. Brann stable, was a driving third. Twelve sprinters, racing under claiming tags of ,500, met in the six furlongs of the second race, and it saw Maewhisk driving to a hard-earned victory for G. R. Watkins. Ruling as the best fancied starter in the bulky field, the victory came by inches when he was up in the last strides to take the measure of Roving Eye, with Patchpocket abreast of the pair to barely take third from Bargain Boy. BEATS START. Favored by a step at the gate, M. J. Reeds Idle Elf, beaten a short margin a few days ago, atoned for that loss when he defeated ten other lowly sprinters in the third race, also at six furlongs. His score of three lengths took place over T. Presgraves Hi-blaze, with Sachem getting up in the last few yards to capture third from Mrs. A. J. Abels Grand Duke. Only five starters met in the fourth race, at a mile and seventy yards, and the result was a surprise when Herbert Kerrs five-year-old mare, Dizzy Dame, registered in a drive. Lightly supported in the small field the success came at the expense of Slattern from the G. Ring barn, as Anglo Saxon took third from W. Elliotts Light Chatter. The only other starter was Sun Victor, which failed throughout. Dizzy Dame received the benefit of a good ride from M. Berg, and it in a measure was responsible for the score that was her second this spring.
