Hitchcock Steeplechase to Delhi Dan in Thrilling Renewal at Aqueduct Oval: Three Dots Withstands Foul Claim after Proving Best in Flying Heels Handicap, Daily Racing Form, 1946-06-12

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Hitchcock Steeplechase to Delhi Dan In Thrilling Renewal at Aqueduct Oval Three Dots Withstands Foul Claim After Proving Best In Flying Heels Handicap AQUEDUCT, 1, 1., N. Y., June 11.— Only five horses went to the post in the 0,000 Hitchcock Steeplechase at Aqueduct today and only four came back, but the race proved a thriller that had the crowd in an uproar throughout the about two miles and a half. 3rookmeade Stables lightly-weighted Delhi Dan equalled the track record of 4:511/5 in driving to a three-quarter length victory over Kent Millers War Battel, while W. H. Lipscombs Mer-cator, the odds-on choice finished two lengths away in third place. Rigan Mc-Kineeys Navigate was a dozen lengths farther back, while Thomas T. Motts Floating Isle, the second choice, lost jockey J. McCulloch at the second fence. Neither horse nor rider was injured, though Floating Isle ran loose in the centerfield after following the field to the water jump. Delhi Dan, who has showed steady improvement in recent weeks, paid 4.00 and was ably ridden by F. D. Adams. He carried a mere 133 pounds, and was receiving 23 from Mercator, six from War Battle and nine from Navigate. A crowd of 22,153 turned out in ideal racing weather, but the chalk players among them ran into difficulties from the start. Our Tommy, winner of the fourth race, was the only winning favorite through the fifth event, but the only startling upset was Ornery Pete, winner of the third offering at 4.90. The tide turned in the Flying Heels Handicap, best of the flat races, when J. Howard Rouses Three Dots, an invader from Chicago, scored at 3 to 5. Many anxious moments followed the Flying Heels, as Warren Mehrtens, who rode Miss Drummond into second place, lodged an objection against Ted Atkinson, Three Dots pilot. After several minutes deliberation, the stewards maintained the result. It appeared that Scholarship and Miss Drummond engaged in a bumping match at the head of the stretch, which the latter won, then Three Dots, who came up on the outside, began to bear in on Scholarship, not enough, however, to effect the result. Three Dots scored by a length and a half, while Miss Drummond was only a nose before Scholarship at the end of the six furlongs that were run in 1:13. Mahmoudess was a distant fourth before Chief Barker, the only other starter. The Hitchcock was a pretty race to watch, apart from the disaster that befell McCulloch in the early stages. Mercator was sent to the front by W. Leonard despite his top impost and the long Journey, but that is the only way the Annapolis gelding will run. Though making a mistake at the fence directly opposite the stands first time Continued on Page Thirty Hitchcock Steeplechase To Delhi Dan in Thriller Three Dots Wins Flying Heels And Withstands Claim of Foul Continued from Page One around and another in front of the stands a little later, Mercator maintained a narrow lead for nearly two miles, while the order changed repeatedly back of the pacemaker Delhi Dan forced the pace most of the first trip around the oval, then was replaced by Navigate, when Adams gave the Brook-meade gelding a breather. As they went down the far side the last time, Mercator was beginning to jump heavily, and Navigate drew level with him, but made a mistake in his turn and dropped back, while Delhi Dan came on again and took the lead at the far turn. Adams had Delhi Dan more than a length in front as they rounded the turn, where Mercator was floundering slightly at his fences. Navigate came on again between calls for one final bid that was short lived. Meanwhile, War Battle moved into second place. Delhi Dan crossed the final fence more than a length in front, but was tiring in his turn, and it took his last ounce of energy to stave off War Battle, who had been patiently rated by A. Bauman. Mercator ran a game race under his high weight, but just couldnt carry the load so far.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1940s/drf1946061201/drf1946061201_1_4
Local Identifier: drf1946061201_1_4
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800