view raw text
I ] 1 ] ; : . . s 1 ! ! • ; ; FLOAT AWAY WINS BY A HEAD Recent Kelley Acquisition Captures Narragansett Feature in Thriller. Outlasts Mystery Miss and Savitar After Moving Up Fast in the Stretch— Crowd of 10,000 Fans in Attendance. PAWTUCKET, R. I., May 8.— In a driving, thrilling finish, Float Away, Paul Kelleys recent acquisition via the claiming route, whipped a select band of eight other three- -year-olds in the Colchester Purse, feature attraction of the afternoon at Narragansett Park. Steadied off the early pace set by Mystery Miss and Grisette, the bay son of Whiskaway moved up fast through the stretch to have a head on Mystery Miss at the finish. Savitar also closed gamely to snatch the third award, half a length back of the runner-up. The 7 to 5 favorite, Pharaboy, was fourth. Under perfect weather conditions and before a crowd of 10,000 enthusiastic fans, Float Away made it two victories at the meeting, and his first in the interests of his new owner since Kelley claimed him recently for ,000 from Mrs. B. M. Smith. Slightly overlooked in the wagering, he paid his backers 6.10. CLOSELY ALIGNED. Mystery Miss and Grisette went away from the barrier in front with never more than a head separating them during the first three-eighths of a mile. The winner had only one horse whipped down the back stretch, but once in his best stride he ran over horses to get the photo decision in the last few strides. Mystery Miss, making her first appearance of the meeting, ran a game race to be second. The favorite players were off on the right foot when Warren Van Tassel booted Mr. Brook to the front in the last stride to take the first race from Esprit in a nose photo decision. Sunabell was a stoutly-closing third, two lengths farther back and another nose in front of Maestrung, the early leader. Jessie V. L. made it two in a row when she carried the silks of Mrs. M. R. Lewis to a cantering three lengths victory in the second race. Held a warm second choice, she was easily best of her field. Joaney B. ran second, a length ahead of Old Dominion. BALL-O-FIRE BY NECK. The Texas-owned stable of Reynolds Bros, sent out the winner of the third race as Ball-o-Fire ran to a neck victory over Epitaph. Ghost Train was two lengths back of the runner-up, in third position. Epitaph broke rapidly to take the lead at once, followed by Ghost Train and Ball-o-Fire. Epitaph shook off Ghost Train on the stretch turn and then measured strides with Ball-o-Fire through the entire final eighth, with the Texas horse outgaming his rival. Seven two-year-olds paraded to the post for the fourth race, named in honor of Frank Fay, stage comedian, and the fans made Five o Five a 7-to-5 favorite. When the dust had settled, however, it was Mrs. E. Graham Lewis Noon Step that filled the winners circle after lasting for a neck victory over Hard Lu, which had a half length advantage over Sun Pharos.
