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Valdina Perion Victorious in Thrilling Finish of Mucho Gusto at Hawthorne Nips Periair by Head While Whosyourgal and Sacaton Dead-Heat for Third Place HAWTHORNE, Cicero, HI., May 23. In one of the closest finishes of the day, William H. Bishops Valdina Perion drove to a game triumph here today in the Mucho Gusto Purse, best offering on an ordinary program. Hard ridden through the stretch by Bruno Pucci, the Bishop gelding was up in the last strides to take a head verdict over Mrs. J. H. Woodcocks Periair. Just a half length back, H. G. Knotts early pacemaker, Whosyourgal, finished in a dead-heat with J. McElroys favored Sacaton for the show award. Shouldering 113 pounds in the six-furlong feature, Valdina Perion raced the Mucho Gusto route in 1:15, over the "slow" track. The Bishop gelding won his second purse here in as many starts and his third of the 1947 season, after which he paid 1.60 in the "tote." Entering the stretch, Whosyourgal held a short lead, while Periair raced in nearest pursuit, and Valdina Perion began his winning bid from third position and on the extreme outside. Periair reached the front after Whosyourgal faltered, but she couldnt withstand Valdina Perions challenge and bowed to the victor in the closing strides. Whosyourgal just lasted to be on equal terms at the final marker with the .fast-finishing Sacaton, who came strongly through the stretch to share in the purse. Bad weather, which hampered the local season from the outset, still prevailed in the Chicago area today and a crowd of 10,229 witnessed the Lincoln Fields-at-Hawthorne program. With little chance for the racing strip to dry, the course was slow and intermittent showers during the matinee did further damage to the footing, indicating that the Saturday half holiday bill will be decided on an "off" track. Apprentice J. Schoultz rounded out a saddle double astride Frederick W. Hoopers Kays Love, who defeated eight other three-year-olds in the six-furlong Viscounty Purse. Kays Love, slow to reach her best stride and outrun to the last three-eighths, closed fast to take a two lengths difference over Flying Ben, who was second by a half length before Sun Symbol. Masico Lad, favorite for the sprint, ran fourth after racing prominently to the last eighth mile. Trainer Edward B. Carpenter and jockey Brooks completed doubles when J. Maissells Valdina Aide scored a front-running two-length triumph in the third race. El Negro was a fast finishing second, while Old Silk, the choice, ran third. Val- Continued on Page Thirty-Two Valdina Perion Nips Periair By Head in Hawthorne Thriller Continued from Page One dina Aide sped the six and one-half furlongs in 1:22 and returned his backers odds of 12 to 5. J. and W. Sopers Sons Style, given a hustling ride by Steve Brooks, drove to a half-length decision in the initial offering, which matched eight ordinary players at six and one-half furlongs. Coming fast through the stretch, Sons Style disposed of Mankcubob, the early pace-maker, then won going away. Three and one-half lengths off the lapped leaders, Sixtys Third finished strongly, to earn the short end of the purse. J. H. Miles Inverette, handled by Anthony Skoronski, won the second event, also at six and one-half furlongs, reaching the wire three-quarters of a length before Good Hunting, second by a similar margin over the favored Ste. Frances. Inverette assumed command early, and, drifting out on the stretch turn, slightly impeded Good Hunting, who then came fast when clear. The Miles mare, however, had something left for the drive and, responding readily to Skoronskis urging, held Good Hunting safe while Ste. Frances, on the inside and in the deepest going, wound up third in the band of eight starters.
