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C . ! ; I I ; I r j j Defense Earns Narrow Decision at Pawtucket Triumphs Over Tetra Rock by Head in Spring Handicap PAWTUCKET, R. I., April 15.— In one of the closest finishes seen at the Narragansett meeting in several seasons. Mrs. H. P. Bonners Defense earned a surprise victory in the sixth running of the ,000 Spring Handicap today. Second honors fell to Lyle Phillips Tetra Rock, who was another head before W. I. Lunts Valdina Punch at the end of the six furlongs. Just a nose off the placed horses, Mrs. William Renards Mixer ran fourth in the field of 11 top flight sprinters who met in the feature. Defense shouldered 112 pounds, which included jockey Willie Turnbull, and ran the distance over the slightly dull strip in l:ll4/5. The Bonner star returned his backers 8.20 in the "tote." Miss Margaret McCallums Reztips, who was installed the favorite for the dash, could do no better than sixth. The topweighted Fire Warden went to the front before traveling a quarter, with Defense second, a head off the pacemaker and a like margin before Tetra Rock. The latter moved up stoutly when roused and opened up a length advantage nearing the stretch, with Defense hanging on well, a similar distance before Mixer. Fire Warden gave way at this juncture and dropped out of serious contention. Once settled in the home lane, Tetra Rock stuck diligently at his task, while Defense began what was to be his winning challenge. Valdina Punch also looked up dangerously when sent to the inside for the closing drive and Mixer was by no means ! beaten. The four leaders then engaged in a bitterly waged stretch duel, with Defense attaining his triumph in the closing strides. Tetra Rock was a game second and Valdina Punch finished stoutly enough to take third by a scant margin over Mixer.
