view raw text
Merry Sunshine Outruns Foes in Cranston Purse Lunt Filly Leads Weatherite Under Clever Ride by Claggett PAWTUCKET, R. I., June 4. — Merry Sunshine, a four-year-old daughter of Sun Teddy and Penelope, carried W. I. Lunts silks to a clever victory today in the featured Cranston Purse at Narragansett Park. Smartly ridden by the veteran Herb Claggett, the Dixiana-bred miss reached the end of the six furlongs sprint, two lengths before Mt. Desert Stables favored Weatherite, while the latter saved the place award by a length and a half over Patrick Cata-lanos Zacabrand, third in the field of nine starters. A crowd of some 12,000 New England patrons braved chill and threatening weather to witness Merry Sunshines triumph as she scored over a slow racing strip. Her running time for the three-quarters mile was 1 :142s. No better than third choice in the speculation, the Lunt filly paid 0.80 in the tote after annexing her first purse of the 1945 campaign. Zacabrand had the highest speed away from the stalls after starter Buddy Wing-field dispatched the Cranston band in good order. Merry Sunshine was right there during the first half mile and followed Zaca-brands pace until inside the stretch, while Weatherite came into third position when the leaders settled for the run to the wire. Merry Sunshine disposed of Zacabrand a furlong from the final marker and responding readily to Claggetts steady hand ride, she drew clear during the last sixteenth mile. Weatherite closed willingly under Joe Martins hustling tactics and although he could not menace the winner, he had little difficulty in taking second honors over the tiring Zacabrand. By Conscript finished willingly to be fourth, a neck before Cake Gravy, who had flattered his supporters with a good display of early speed. Jockey Willie Balzaretti starred in the saddle today, piloting the winners of the first, third and fourth races. Balzaretti was astride British Warm in the opener and his mount easily downed Ticco, Chiefs Boy and nine other ordinary platers at six furlongs. Favored in the wagering, British Warm paid .80.
