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a a B iiyly c a : ♦, Apache Displays Vaunted Speed | To Beat Devil Diver in Toboggan Belair Star Gains Revenge T On Nemesis at Belmont as Meeting Gets Under Way ELMONT, L. I., N. Y.. June 4.— Belair Studs seal brown sprinter, Apache, gained a long sought revenge over Greentree Stables Devil Diver when he surprised a chilly throng of 24,489 at Belmont Park this afternoon, zooming to the finish of the fifty-second edition of the Toboggan Handicap two and one-half lengths before his arch rival. Longchamps Farms Mrs. Ames was another four lengths behind the favorite in this six -furlong dash down the Widener course, while William Helis Salto finished a close fourth in the field of nine who contested the 5,000 added stake. This opening day of the Belmont Park meeting was "January in June" so far as weather conditions were concerned, with rain, mist and a bone-chilling breeze making conditions highly unseasonable. The sport, however, was of a high order, despite the upset of the favorite in the traditional feature. Devil Diver had been a nemesis to Apache for the past two seasons, beating him in the Paumonok Handicap at Jamaica in 1944 and again this year, but today there was no question as to its being Alcazar stallions day. In defense of Devil Diver it must be noted that the strapping son of St. Germans had 135 pounds in the saddle, as compared with 129 on Apache and may have found the slippery footing to his distaste. Flood Town Dwells at Gate When starter George Cassidy gave the signal, far up at the top of the long straightaway, Flood Town appeared to dwell in the gate, while William Zieglers | Breezing Home spurted to the front, with Mrs. Ames right at his flanks and Offenbach and Salto in close attendance. Apache and Devil Diver were running fourth and fifth as the field came into closer view, with Tropea, Brownie and Flood Town behind them. As the field passed the clubhouse stand. Mrs. Ames was a neck to the fore of Breezing Home and driving on gamely, though bearing toward the far fence, while Apache and Devil Diver were both surging forward powerfully. It was quickly apparent that the race lay between this pair and for an instant the issue was in doubt, when Jimmy Stout asked Apache for all he had and the brown stallion drew clear. Apache went on to win with something in reserve and though Devil Diver gave his utmost, he never threatened after that one fleeting moment at the sixteenth pole. Mrs. Ames ran a splendid race, but was a thoroughly beaten filly at the end, while Salto raced evenly along the inside all the way. Breezing Home stopped badly. Devil Diver raced in smooth plates, which may also have hampered him in his quest for a third consecutive Toboggan victory in the extremely soupy footing. This Toboggan was run in 1:11, excellent time under the circumstances, with fractions of :23 and :4625. Apache earned 0,995 for William Woodward, master of Belair Stud, and paid 0.80 in the role of second choice. Grandpa Max and Easy Spell, who had previously raced under each others names, with Grandpa Max winning in the role of Easy Spell and the latter losing badly under the name of Grandpa Max, went postward as an entry in the fourth race. Continued on Page Thirty-Two WILLIAM WOODWARD — The Jockey l Club chairmans homebred Apache ac- t counted for the Toboggan Handicap, yesterdays opening-day feature at Belmont Park. Apache Defeats Devil Diver To Account for Toboggan Continued trom Page One Grandpa Max caused a mild surprise by winning the dash for maiden juvenile colts and geldings by four lengths from The Heir, while the favored Skylighter was thud in the huge field of 21. While this was a maiden race, Fred Lans-burghs gelded son of Easy Money was eligible despite the fact that he had led the Youthful Stakes winner, Twenty-Six, under the wire, because he was disqualified from that earlier victory when his true identity was established. Todays four and one-half furlongs dash was run in :53Vs. with Grandpa Max literally crushing his rivals in style that suggests he may be a fair sort of youngster. He paid 3.80. Easy Spell finished far back. A spill marred the running of the Trillion Hurdle Race, which was third on the program, when Mrs. F. Ambrose Clarks Cosey stumbled at the fourth fence and tossed jockey S. Riles, who was removed in an ambulance. Riles was cut slightly in the back of the head, one stitch being required to repair the damage.
