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j ] ,1 I i 4 Third Metropolitan Win In Row for Devil Diver Becomes First to Accomplish Feat; Wagering Record Set ELMONT, L. I., N. Y., June 9.— Green-tree Stables Devil Diver scored his third consecutive victory in the 5,000 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park today, coasting through the long stretch four lengths before Millbrook Stables Alex Barth, while Crispin Oglebays Boy Knight was a half length farther back and three-quarters of a length before Belair Studs Apache. Devil Diver was in hand most of the way under a confident ride by Ted Atkinson, running the mile in 1:3625 and rewarding his followers in the crowd of 43,-701 to the tune of .10. A new wagering record for a single race in New York was established for the Metropolitan when the crowd poured 74,104 into the pari-mutuel pool. Devil Diver earned 8,280 for the Greentree Stable. A new worlds record for pari-mutuel Continued on Page Five Third Metropolitan Win In Row for Devil Diver Becomes First to Accomplish Feat; Wagering Record Set Continued from Page One wagering was established when ,951,227 was invested in the eight races. The previous record was ,618,848 established at Belmont Park last October. Boy Knight and Apache went to the front at the start of the fifty-second edition of the Metropolitan, with Jimmy Stout attempting to restrain the Belair stallion somewhat, while Alex Barth and Devil Diver were close at hand, before Smolensko, Bounding Home and Olympic Zenith, who completed the field. Going to the far turn, Jimmy Stout let out a notch on Apache and he ranged up alongside Boy Knight, while Devil Diver moved past Alex Barth on the rail. The order did not change rounding the long bend to the stretch, though Devil Diver was saving ground along the rail and closing rapidly. As the field turned into the stretch, Devil Diver had drawn level and, when Atkinson clucked to the favorite, j he literally bounded away from his rivals, j Apache shortened stride badly but Boy I Knight continued gamely while Alex Barth, who had dropped back on the stretch turn, surged forward again with a rush that carried him into second place in the final yards. Olympic Zenith had a faint trace of speed at the end. while Bounding Home and Smolensko were never really in the race. This Metropolitan was the fastest mile of the current meeting, but the time did not compare with some earlier runnings, , Devil Diver himself carrying 134 pounds to ! victory in 1:3545 last year. The fractions j today however, were exceedingly even, the quarter being run in :2345, the half-mile in I :47. six furlongs in 1:1135 and the mile in ! 1:3625. Devil Divers next major engagement is the 0,000 Suburban to be run next Saturday, and for which he would have been topweight and favorite last year, but for an injury shortly before the race. Two horses had previously won two run-! nings of the Metropolitan, Mad Hatter and Equipoise, but the handsome bay son of St. Germans — Dabchick, by Royal Minstrel, is the first to capture three renewals of Belmonts most important mile event for mature horses. Maine Chance Farms They Say scored a game victory in the sixty-ninth running , of the Juvenile Stakes in which he was making an auspicious racing debut. He drove to the end of the five furlongs on j the Widener course a neck before A. J. Sacketts Sun Ireland, while F. W. Hoopers High Air was another three lengths back in third place, and two lengths before Edgar Zantkers Senator C. The favored Twenty-Six. carrying Vera S. Braggs colors, finished fifth, beating only one horse after being last out of the stall gate and having no speed. They Say was acquired by Mrs. Elizabeth Graham for ,200 at the 1944 yearling sales and "won himself out" today, : earning ,860 in the Juvenile.
