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Roman Roman Sox Sox Takes Takes Phoenix Phoenix Handicap; Handicap; Excelsior Excelsior Goes Goes to to Alex Alex Barth Barth by by Neck Neck Amber Light Next To Brolite Racer Shifty Filly Sets Own Pace —Crowd of 16,000 Views Keeneland-at-Downs Sport LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 15— The turf season in the Blue Grass State opened in auspicious fashion this afternoon. An estimated 16,000 enthusiasts assembled at historic Churchill Downs and saw the Brolite Farms rapid filly, Roman Sox, defeat Dixi-anas favored Amber Light a length md a quarter at the end of the six-furlong ,000 added Phoenix Handicap. C. U. Yaegers Corona Corona accompanied the first two into the stretch, where he became discouraged by the swift pace and finished third, two lengths behind the Fisher colorbearer. Anticlimax, representing Hal Price Head-| ley, was fourth in a shifty field of seven that included Alfred Parkers By Jimminy. one of the top-flight juveniles of the 1943 season and a prominent Kentucky Derby candidate. By Jimminy, making his initial appearance at three, was unable to keep up with his more seasoned older rivals, but he looked and acted as if he will improve. Roman Sox, a facile winner on the occasion of her latest start at Oaklawn. Park, had the speed to take the track at the break in the Phoenix. She was ac-j companied closely by Corona Corona and Amber Light around the turn, where the former stopped. Amber Light Drifts Out Amber Light was drifting out entering the stretch, then came back in during the drive, whereas the winner sallied straight down the alley under jockey A. Skoronski She was timed in :224/5, :4tft and 1:11% on a track that had dried rapidly undei the influence of a brisk wind. The fout- year-old Roman Soldier filly was the sec- ond choice on the odds board and paid 0, while adding ,400 to earlier gleanings. The weather was generally fair, and one of the largest opening-day attendances in years wended its way to the scene of the street-car Derby. Wagering was brisk throughout the day and many favorites won. Jockey Ralph Eccard was the saddle star through the running of the feature, booting a double. Col. C. V. Whitneys Flyweight won hec third purse in as many sallies postward and performed like a stake filly to annex the winners award in the Crestwood Purse, at four and one -half furlongs. Breaking swiftly under Ralph Eccard in a field of 10 juveniles. Flyweight opened up a daylight lead in the first quarter and there-8 after "walked her beat," defeating Wise Admiral, the runner-up, by half a dozen lengths. Wise Admiral and Regal Maid injected whatever element of competition there was in the race, battling it out for the place. Regal Maid bore in on Wise Admiral, but he nevertheless beat her a half length. Flyweight hung out :53»3 for the four ! and one -half furlongs. ♦ ! ! , i I 1 : I I , I j i I 1 1 1 , t ; J ! j . , ; 3 " t • - r 1 s
