West Fleet Along in Last Stride to Take Plymouth Rock Handicap: Overtakes Jo Agnes to Gain Nose Decision as Suffolk Meeting Gets Under Way, Daily Racing Form, 1946-05-28

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► West Fleet Along in Last Stride To Take Plymouth Rock Handicap Overtakes Jo Agnes to Gain t Nose Decision as Suffolk Meeting Gets Under Way SUFFOLK DOWNS, East Boston, Mass., May 27. — Topweighted with 123 pounds but charging down the stretch as if carrying a feather, H. T. Darlings hard-hitting West Fleet won the verdict in a three horse blanket finish in the Plymouth Rock Handicap, 0,000 added feature race of the opening day of the Suffolk Downs meeting. A crowd of 22,564 enthusiasts turned out in spite of the miserable weather. Ridden powerfully in the final drive the five year old chestnut gelding by Whizza-way-Tody West, just got up in the final stride over the mud-soaked track to nip the pace-setting Jo Agnes, with Johnny Jr. third and Take Away fourth. Thus he won the ,450 first money, scored his second stakes victory in New England, his fourth triumph of the New England season. Not only that, but the victory of West Fleet made consecutive stakes win for the stable on racing days, for his half sister Fleet West, won the Narragansett Nursery Stakes at that point Saturday. The useful sprinter who goes well either on a fast track or in the mud, was rated off the pace in the gooey going of the Suffolk Downs today as Jo Agnes, turning in the best race of her New England campaign this year, opened up a long lead out of the gate followed by H. G. Bedwells Sollure. She turned for home still well in front but Take Away, the Californian, had moved up on the rail and was second in the final run, while out in the middle of the track West Fleet and Johnny Jr. were making their bids. Unable to Withstand Winners Drive Jo Agnes held on gamely but West Fleet was fairly lifted home by Jockey Harry Pratt with Johnny Jr. running much improved, just missing the place. The triumph was the second of the day for Pratt, who previously had scored with Fred Wyses Heres Me in the maiden two-year -ureold filly event. Apprentice Joe Licausi, who took down honors as the leading rider during the Narragansett Park meeting with 42 winners of the first two races at the East Boston track and brought about a highly popular Daily Double which was good for 0.00 for each ticket. He drove I. Gushers Little Hoops home a neck in advance of Flaming High in the opener and got Oran Lodge Stables to the wire a length before Buck Sergeant in the second race. Sam Garfields F. B. Eye accounted for the Pilgrim Father Purse, one mile and a sixteenth event which preceded the featured Plymouth Rock Handicap on the program. Jockey R. I. Martin sent the son of Chance Play to the front soon after the start and opened up a sizable lead by the time the final turn was reached. At this point, the favored Momo Flag made his move and got within a length of the Garfield racer at the furlong pole. However, Martin went to work on his mount and he again drew away to have three and a half lengths as the wire was reached. The favorite had little trouble saving the place by five lengths over Flourtown.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1940s/drf1946052801/drf1946052801_1_4
Local Identifier: drf1946052801_1_4
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800