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Water Pearl in Big Empire City Upset Downs Peacemaking Chop Chop by Neck Favorite Has Little Left At Wire After Racing Into Big Lead in Route Contest JAMAICA, L. I., N. Y.; June 28.— The Nepperham Purse was the stellar offering of the opening day of the summer meeting held under the auspices of the Empire City Association at Jamaica. The change in scene, the first on the Metropolitan circuit made at the request of the state authorities, as an emergency war effort, had no effect upon the attendance. The gate was well up to expectations. The Nepperham furnished an upset when the neglected outsider, Water Pearl, racing for Hudson Valley Stable, drove up on the outside in the late stages to down the heavily supported favorite, Chop Chop, from the Mill River Stable while the Lazy F Ranchs Royal Nap was third. The event, a run of a mile and a sixteenth, attracted a field of six. Jockey Longden, who rode Chop Chop, failed to gain any laurels for his efforts ultimately brought about the defeat of the choice. Longden sprinted his mount into a commanding lead shortly after the start and then when settled for the stretch run had nothing left with which to stave off the rush of his opposition. Closes Strongly on Outside Water Pearl, who in the early stages had been steadied along, responded when roused, closed with a rush on the outside to win the major award of the purse. Royal Nap, on the other hand, was penned in along the rail in the run through the rear stretch and then finished with a rush. Water Pearl was ridden by H. Beasy and netted the few who had supported him a mutuel return of 8.80 for the usual investment. Due to the early pace. Water Pearl was timed for the full distance in 1:45. There was one withdrawal from the list of overnight starters, Haile owned by Mrs. E. D. Jacobs. The start was effected without any delay and sprinting to the first turn. Chop Chop was sent into his commanding lead. This margin was increased as he skipped along the back stretch while Water Pearl was next in line with Towser on the outside of Royal Nap and the latter along the rail swinging for the stretch turn. Chop Chop retained his wide advantage and then in the stretch the pace began to take its toll as the son of Flares and Skeptical began to falter. It was then that Beasy drove Water Pearl, the latter finished resolutely to wear down pacemaker while Royal Nap closed fast at the end. George H. Bull, president of the association, and vice-president Dr. MacGuire and Walter Travers were on hand and immensely pleased with the outpouring although admitting that an Empire City meeting at Jamaica brought about a touch of homesickness for the Yonkers plant despite the fact that the green and gold Empire City flags flew from the grandstand.
