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| HEATHER BROOM QUALIFIES Looms Up as Candidate for Belmont Stakes by Winning the Equipoise. Runs Mile and an Eighth in 1:50 to Easily Beat Belay, Nedayr and Handcuff-Nose Finish in Steeplechase. NEW YORK, N. Y., May 23.— Heather Broom, making his first start since finishing third to Johnstown and Challedon in the Kentucky Derby, displayed an outstanding performance in preparation for the Belmont Stakes in winning the Equipoise Handicap, featuring todays Belmont Park program. The John Hay Whitney three-year-old ran the mile and one furlong in 1:50 to easily capture the event by five lengths over A. C. Bostwicks Belay, likewise a Belmont eligible, as Willis Sharpe Kilmers Nedayr and Brookmeade Stables Handcuff, both four-year-olds, also trailed him to the finish. A fair-sized crowd was gratified at the clean-cut triumph by the son of The Porter — Janet Blair as he was the third straight favorite to win. The track was fast, although overcast skies prevailed. Carrying scale weight of 112 pounds and giving five pounds by the standard to each of Jais older rivals and eight to Belay, Heather Broom withstood a steady pace to come away in the final quarter. He drew out so easily that Basil James was able to ease up the Sande-trained colt in the final sixteenth. FINE EARLY SPEED. Displaying excellent early speed, Heather Broom was under vigorous restraint in being rated at Nedayrs withers in the half-mile run down the back stretch. Belay, also under rating tactics, was just a length back on the outside, while Handcuff dropped far out of contention. As the small field made the wide turn James let out a wrap and Heather Broom gradually went to Nedayr and then ahead of the Kilmer colt. His move was followed by that of Belay, which almost got up on even terms with the Whitney representative entering the stretch. James then applied the pressure and Heather Broom soon raced Belay into submission to draw away. Belay held on for secondary honors as Nedayr, although tiring, had enough left to outlast Handcuff, finishing three lengths back of the Bostwick colt and a length and one-half before the filly. The fractional time was :23% for the quarter, :47 for the half mile, 1:11% for the three-quarters and 1:36% for the mile. The final time was 1:50. SASSY LADY WINS. Sassy Lady, the Snow White Stables easy-running daughter of Flying Heels and Lady Mitzi, easily defeated five other three-year-bids at six furlongs in the Oyster Bay Handicap after being one of the fortunate ones in a bad start. Under the handling of Don Meade, she was rated behind Selmalads pace until reaching the stretch, where she went forward steadily on the outside to gain a clear lead. Toward the end Meade was able to ease up on Sassy Lady. She reached the line a length and a half before J. E. Wideners Rodin, which held a similar advantage over Parker Comings Chip In, the latter just .overtaking the tiring Selmalad. Roll and Toss was a close fifth after being all but left at the post. It took the judges a long time, even with the help of a photograph, to determine that He Goes, from the Log Cabin Stud Stable, had earned the decision over Greek Idol in the short course steeplechase, fashioned for maiden fencers. Far back of the battling pair, Atophan outgamed Broom Topper to take third. There were nine went to the post and Slievereigh was the big disappointment, running an exceedingly dull race after having been heavily played. He went to the post favorite at 8 to 5.
