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Challenge Challenge Me Me Arkansas Arkansas Derby Derby Victor; Victor; Grasshopper Grasshopper II. II. Beats Beats Argonne Argonne Woods Woods Brolite Colt Leads Throughout To Defeat Shut Up With Ease Negotiates Mile and Eighth* Within Fifth of Track Mark As Spa Meeting Terminates HOT SPRINGS, Ark., April 1.— Challenge Me, fleet son of Challenger II. and Cash Book, carried the Brolite Farm silks to a popular victory in the ninth running of the 0,000 added Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park today. Given an alert ride by Tony Skoronski, the Brolite colt, who is an eligible to the forthcoming Kentucky Derby, held a three and one-half lengths margin at the end of the one mile and a furlong test. Second honors in the Spa closing-day feature fell to Erlangers Stables Shut Up, who was two and one-half lengths before David Fergusons highly -regarded Bell Buzzer. Challenge Me, who last week-end set a new mile and a sixteenth track record here, held his form today and carried his 120 pounds burden over the nine furlongs in 1:50%, which was only a fifth of a second off With Regards mark. The Brolite colt added ,450 to his earnings and will be shipped to Kentucky next week. Choice in the betting, Challenge Me paid .10. Challenge Me took command immediately and was permitted to go along at a sizzling pace as he reached the half-mile marker in :46%, the five furlongs in :58 and the three-quarters in 1:103s. Challenge Mes speed was too much for Valdina Perion and Comanche Peak, and both gave way near the turn for home. Continues Straight and True Skoronski did not punish Challenge Me and his mount continued straight and true to easily hold the advantage in the run to the wire. Green Bush faltered during the final furlong, and Shut Up, who had been far back to the stretch, closed with a rush but could not menace the victor, although easily withstanding Bell Buzzers belated challenge. The latter, away slowly and badly-outrun to the stretch, finished strongly. One of the largest crowds ever to attend a program at the Spa course was on hand for the final day of the 1944 season and it was treated to interesting sport. Silver Star Stock Farms Chipamink won the Au Revoir Handicap in handy style, under a well-judged ride by George Mc-Leod. He beat Mrs. Norman B. Hernandez Valdina Senora by two lengths and was three-quarters of a length before Mis. Ralph Mcllvains Bright Wiliie. A mishap marred the running when H. H. Fausetts Grey Days stumbled soon after the start and lost his rider, Albert Gaither. The latter was taken to the track hospital for preliminary examination and later removed to the Ozark Sanitarium for further observation. Chipamink ran the three-quarters in 1:1045.
