view raw text
War War Miss Miss and and Doras Doras Son Son Triumphant; Triumphant; But But Why Why Not Not Acorn Acorn Stakes Stakes Victress Victress Second Stake Win 1 In Four-Day Span King Ranch Filly Drives to Line Two Lengths Ahead of Harmonica at Belmont Park BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., May 13. — It was a great day for the Hirsch family at Belmont Park today. Max Hirsch saddled But Why Not Me to win her second stake in four days when she accounted for the seventeenth running of the Acorn Stakes, and his son, Max Jr., sent out John J. Watts Harmonica to take second honors, two lengths away at the end of the mile. A. C. Ernsts stretch-running Alrenie finished four lengths farther back and just a head before Glen Riddle Farms Merry Lass. But Why Not, who won her last 1946 start, captured an overnight race for her 1947 debut, then won the Pimlico Oaks last Friday, was second choice to B. F. Whitakers Carolyn A., and paid . The daughter of Blue Larkspur and Be Like Mom, who appears to be the best of the thoroughbreds acquired in the late E. R. Bradley dispersal thus far, at least, gave the impression of being an excellent broodmare prospect. She switched her tail all through the Acorn and continued to do so after the event. Warren Mehrtens gave her one of his customarily under -rated rides, keeping the filly out of trouble without losing too much ground. Earns 4,300 for Effort But Why Not earned 4,300 by her victory today, bringing her seasons gleanings to 6,825, a figure that is hardly likely to be her yearly total when the tax man comes around. A crowd of 26,763 turned out in ideal weather, warmy, sunny and generally salubrious in contrast to the most dismal spring in the memory of many a man. There were no real surprises through the feature, with favorites capturing the second and fifth races. The real surprise of the day was the performance of Carolyn A., who just didnt seem to want to run and finished seventh in the Acorn, and was just about in that position all the way. Hal Price Headleys Check Please had the most early speed in the Acorn as the field broke from the chute, far to the right of the clubhouse on the far side of the track. She was followed by Conniver, Harmonica, But Why Not, By Sea, Merry Lass, Flaring Home, Graciously, Quarantaine, Carolyn A., Alrenie, Snow Goose and Pi-cardly Belle. As the race began to form a pattern, Check Please continued to lead before Gra- Continued on Page Six But Why Not Captures Acorn As Second Stake Win of Year Continued from Page One ciously, Harmonica and But Why Not, who was on the outside and giving the impression that she wanted to bear out as she switched her tail like a propeller. Check Please ran completely out of wind nearing the stretch, where Harmonica took command, followed by But Why Not and Merry Lass, who had made a strong bid rounding the curve, while Alrenie was closing ground. Meanwhile, Carolyn A. was running as though brooding over her victory in the Louisiana Derby rather than paying strict attention to the business at hand, horses dropping back past her, and passing her in moves to the front without appreciably altering her own position. In the final furlong, But Why Not was put to a hard drive by Mehrtens, but clearly outfinished Harmonica, while Alrenie closed with a powerful rush that suggests she may be a factor in the Coaching Club American Oaks to come. The time of the mile was 1:38, precisely the same in which Class C. colts ran that part of the mile and a sixteenth race that followed. C. V. Whitneys Ghost Run, who was thought good enough to make her debut in the Fashion Stakes last week, proved much the best in the four and a half furlongs dash that preceded the Acorn, and did it in a style to suggest that she may be a formidable candidate for that stake a year hence. The daughter of Boojum — Fox-iana reached the wire three widening lengths before Mrs. Robert L. Gerrys Forever Fair, who was in futile pursuit most of the journey down the straightaway, while Lester Manor Stables Mary Tudor finished well to take third money, just a nose farther back. Ghost Run is a full sister to the nimble Boojiana, winner of the Matron Stakes a couple of years ago.