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Stronghold Stronghold and and Stir Stir Up Up Gain Gain Laurels; Laurels; Pensive Pensive Takes Takes Rowe Rowe Memorial Memorial by by Head Head jPiikka Gin Glorious in Defeat In First Half of Experimental Favorite Closes Big Gap in Final Drive on Front-Running Wheatley Colt to Be Beaten Half-Length; Autocrat Second As Greentree Homebred Romps to Easy Score Under Arcaro JAMAICA, L. I., N. Y., April 12.— Wheatley Stables Stronghold surprised a throng of 19,432 turf fans when he won the first division of the ,000 Experimental Free Handicap, twin six-furlong fixture, this afternoon, and then Greentree Stables Stir Up bore out their pre-visions by romping home on the proverbial chin-strap in the second half of the stake. Stronghold earned ,850 for beating the favored Pukka Gin a half length in a thrilling finish and paid his followers 9.60. Stir Up earned 00 less, as there was one less starter in this division of the stake, and was an odds-on favorite, paying .50. Autocrat was two and a half lengths farther back, while Tit Tat Toe was third. The afternoon, which "♦began under a cloudy drizzle, became clear and warm as the sun broke through during the third race. Favorites again won the first two races, then failed their followers until Stir Up scored in the sixth race. Incidentally, the latters victory completed a double for Greentree and Arcaro. who had the mount on Music Hall in the first race. Pukka Gin was "glorious in defeat" in the first division of the Experimental. He was next to last leaving the gate, having only Broad Grin behind him and had not begun to close any ground moving to the turn, where he was nearly nine lengths behind Stronghold. The Wheatley leader was bounding along with a two-length lead before Boy Knight, who was head and head with Sweeping Time, with Fox Brownie and Ariel Game in close attendance. Moves Up Strongly on Turn Pukka Gin began to move midway of the turn, first cutting to the inside, then taking out again and losing ground at the head of the stretch. Atkinson had him in fourth place coming into the run for home, but Stronghold was still a length and a half in front of Fox Brownie, who had moved into second place and Sweeping Time was two lengths farther back, a head in front of the Whitney star. Atkinson swung his whip, then sat down to a desperate drive down the stretch and Pukka Gin responded valiantly with a charge that carried him past Sweeping Time and Fox Brownie as though they were rooted, and was remorselessly cutting down Strongholds lead, but the winning post was too near and the final margin was a half length. Stronghold was timed in 1:1235 and Permane had him snugly on the rail throughout. Fox Brownie hung at the end, but the others were staggering behind him and he was five lengths to the good of Sweeping Time. The winner was receiving 18 pounds from Pukka Gin who went to the post covered with sweat. After the race jockey Ted Atkinson said: "Im not disappointed in the colt. Im just disappointed in not winning. When we got to running he went so fast I thought we really had won it." The rider added that he had to take up at the head of the Continued on Page Fifteen *t 1 - l c l t r t 6 I f r t - e j , I ;, i 1 i g 1 e 1 of" f- * s i ! s 1 - I e • d [ ■ s n y - i d :s d d 8, !- •- i, in n .11 ET n h. ie lfc is ! I- Stronghold and Stir Up ■ Victors in Experimental Pukka Gin Glorious in Defeat In First Half of Jamaica Stake j I 1 Continued from Page One stretch to avoid running upon another horses heels, and Pukka Gin was momen- ! taiily thrown off stride. His next sched- 1- I j uled appearance is the St. James Purse at tt | a mile and 70 yards next Tuesday. The second half of the Experimental was is hardly more than a warm-up for Stir Up. ?• The Flamingo winner permitted Long-1 - i champs Farms Grant Rice to set the pace ;e for nearly half a mile, then swept past: 5ti with complete authority when Eddie Arcaro *o gave him his head. Grant Rice tired rapidly when collared id and Autocrat inherited second place, which h he had little trouble saving, despite the ie closing rush of Cain Hoy Stables Tit Tat it Toe. The winners margin was two and a half lengths and could easily have been twice that, while Autocrat was two lengths 1S before Tit Tat Toe, who was a half length in front of Fire Sticky, who had trailed to the head of the stretch. The gelded son of Stimulus — Lady Minnie n- j skipped the six furlongs in 1:12. time! ie three-fifths faster than Stronghold required e- under a hard drive. Greentree Stable has now started horses es in three stakes at the meeting and won two vo of them. Devil Diver having captured the ne inaugural Paumonok, while Broad Grin was unplaced in the first division of the Experimental. x-
