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ABRASION VICTOR IN DELAWARE HEADLINER HEADLINERRomps Romps Home Before Honey Cloud in Smyrna Handicap Over Sloppy Oval Wood Chopper Runs Third ThirdSTANTON STANTON Del June 4 The Maryland bred Abrasion from the stable of J W Y Martin came up to the Smyrna Handicap with two handicap victories this year to his credit and he made it a triple in this divi sjm by scoring in hollow fashion Shoulder ¬ ing the top impost of 122 pounds which in ¬ cluded R Howell and although drifting out during the final stages of the six furlongs the fouryearold Canter gelding enjoyed the advantage of three and onehalf lengths at the close He wore down Mrs A J Abels Honey Cloud who during this year of rac ¬ ing has not displayed the form that carried him to victory in the 1940 Dixie Handicap during the run to the turn and from then on it was nothing less than a gallop for the Martin representative H Guy Bedwells Wood Chopper was third five lengths back of Honey Cloud and a length before Glorious Time Hardy Bud the only other compet ¬ itor was a distant trailer at no stages offer ¬ ing the leading quartette a threat threatRains Rains during the night and until near rac ¬ ing hours transformed the course into a sea of slop and consequently the program was riddled by scratches There were so many requests for withdrawals in the seventh race that this event was declared off and the carded substitute took its place In spite of the unsettled weather a large crowd at ¬ tended but the wagering was the smallest of the meeting meetingHONEY HONEY CLOUD EARLY PACEMAKER PACEMAKERThird Third choice in the wagering both Honey Cloud and Wood Chopper being held at shorter odds Abrasion began back of Glori ¬ ous Time with Honey Cloud next in motion However Peters rushed Honey Cloud into the lead and the winner and Glorious Time moved into the final halfmile with him Rounding the bend Abrasion took command and he opened up on his rivals to attain an advantage of three lengths during the run to the stretch Honey Cloud was under strong handling and he kept after the fly ¬ ing leader but Wood Chopper who had im ¬ proved his position on the inside was along ¬ side Honey Cloud at the eighth post It was only a mild threat for the Abel color bearer drew away to prove the gamest dur ¬ ing the run to the wire Glorious Times fine speed lasted only for three furlongs There was good support for Hardy Bud but after beginning slowest of all he failed to improve his position positionThe The winner rewarding at odds of 730 for 2 ran the distance in 114 114Riding Riding Light a fashionably bred three yearold son of Blue Larkspur Lightship by Man o War was the most decisive win ¬ ner of the current meeting when he outsped four other three and fouryearolds in the fifth race which had its decision over one and onesixteenth miles Without need of pressure and ridden by Albert Schmidl the Walter M Jeffords colorbearer came to the finish eight lengths before Sir Alfred and Yawl was third six lengths farther back backA A 14 to 5 choice Riding Light who was chalking up his third victory all of which were accomplished this year began back of Yawl and Roncat but Schmidl soon had him in the van and he went to the back stretch clear of his rivals After entering the final six furlongs he steadily increased his advan ¬ tage Sir Alfred disposed of Yawl after going three furlongs but he was unable to menace the winner Silver Rocket tired after improving his position and Roncat dropping out of contention during the early stages trailed throughout
