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THANKSGIVING AGAIN j Wins Excelsior Handicap by a Head From Fighting Fox. Workman Gives Colt Masterful Ride Aerial Bomb Defeats Odds-On Favorite, Black Legion. NEW YORK, N. Y., May 6.— Mrs. Parker Comings Thanksgiving, in a desperately fought-out finish with William Woodwards Fighting Fox, was winner of the Excelsior Handicap of the Metropolitan Jockey Club today. Well back of the battling pair, Thomas Healeys Tatterdemalion readily saved third from Maxwell Howards The Chief. "Sonny" Workman had the mount on the son of Bud Lerner and Inchcape Belle, and his powerful finish was a factor in the triumph. , . , The colt went to the post second choice to Fighting Fox, at 7 to 2 in the betting. The running carried a value of ,950 to the wm- With a day of summer temperature and an excellent program, one of the largest crowds of the season was on hand and the racing furnished many a thrilling finish. The mile and a sixteenth special of the afternoon brought together a field of seven, Great Union being a late scratch. There was some delay at the post, for which Grey Gold was to blame, but the start was a good one. Longden at once sprinted Fighting Fox to the front and rounding the first turn he was in hand and showing the way to The Chief. UNDER STEADYING RESTRAINT. The pair quickly drew into a lead of five lengths before Thanksgiving. Workman had his mount under a steadying restraint as he sent him along on the rail. Grey Gold followed the son of Bud Lcrner and then came Tatterdemalion and Unselfish, with Mythical King bringing up the rear. As Fighting Fox carried the pace he was well in hand and The Chief followed him steadily. Going to the far turn Arcaro shook up Tatterdemalion and the old son of St. Germans moved up rapidly on the inside to enter the contention. At the same time ; Workman moved with Thanksgiving and he ; chose the outside. The quickened pace soon i put The Chief away, then Tatterdemalion ran into some slight interference when taken between -Fighting Fox and the tiring The Chief, while Thanksgiving continued to move up smoothly on the outside. A furlong out Fighting Fox was hanging on gamely, having disposed of both The Chief and Tatterdemalion, but Workman continued to drive Thanksgiving up with hands and heels. With each stride the colt wore down Fighting Fox until right at the end it was his head that was over the line. This final duel had taken the pair out four : lengths before Tatterdemalion and he in turn was six lengths before The Chief. In his last start Thanksgiving was winner : of the Philadelphia Handicap at Havre de Grace. EARLY SETTLER PROVES. Early Settler proved best of the class "C" field that went to the post in the mile and a furlong of the Naturalist Handicap. The son of Swift and Sure, after closely following the pace, carried the silks of W. C. Winfrey to victory over Cisneros. Our Ketcham easily saved third from Count Arthur. The winner went to the post at 7 to 1, while Our Ketcham was the favorite, though 4 to 1 was laid against his chances. A big thrill for the crowd came in the ] | opening number, a six furlongs dash for three-year-old platers, when Mrs. Ethel D. Jacobs Henryels Pick, the favorite, barely beat Giboir, from the Paragon Stables. It had been a bitterly-fought duel all through the final furlong, and only the camera could give the decision. This fighting finish carried the leading pair out eight lengths before Spanish Dot, and Calendquest was a close fourth. Longden had the winning mount. LONGDEN IN LIMELIGHT. A riding double was scored by Johnny Longden, and a second favorite registered when Evil Spirit, from the Wheatley Stable, proved best of the maiden juveniles that met in the five furlongs second race. The son of Diavolo had to be sent right along to score over William H. Gallaghers Wise Bee, and third went to John Hay Whitneys Woof Woof when he led home Dollarville, which raced for E. W. Duffy. After the two favorites had made good, an upset occurred in the third race when Nelson I. Asiels Gino Rex, sent to the post by Andy Schuttinger and ridden by Joey Wagner, was winner over five other three-year-old maidens. This was a gallop of a mile and seventy yards, and the son of Gino went to the post at 12 to 1. Mrs. E. Graham Lev/is Generalis finished second, with Samuel D. Riddles Burn Up finishing third before Black Demon, the choice of the company. Another choice went by the boards in the fourth race, a six furlongs dash for three-year-olds • under claiming conditions, when . Wheatley Stables Black Legion could finish no better than third. He was led home by • J. E. Kenneys Aerial Bomb and George D. Wideners Highscope. Arcaro had the mount on Aerial Bomb and he went to the post at 9 to 2 in the betting, winning by six lengths. .
