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Cock Feather Outruns Alexis In Delaware Parks Longwood Mary Hickman Colorbearer Staves Off Closing Rush of Choice to Prevail by Head HeadDELAWARE DELAWARE PARK Stanton Del June 17 Showing his heels to five rivals from start to finish of the six furlongs Mary Paxton Hickmans lightlyregarded five yearold gelding Cock Feather registered a clever although narrow victory in the featured Longwood Purse here today to enter the winners circle for the first time this season seasonConfidently Confidently handled by veteran Porter Roberts Cock Feather clung tenaciously to a dwindling lead in the final sixteenth of a mile to defeat Christiana Stables charg ¬ ing Alexis by a head with the latter a stanch favorite in the small field leading Mrs Elmer Truemans Send Off an addi ¬ tional four lengths lengthsAlexis Alexis steered to the center of the track for the drive with jockey Carson Kirk ob ¬ viously in search of the best footing raced closest to the pacemaker through the final quarter of a mile and would have caught the winner in another stride or two Al ¬ though he is generally regarded as a poor off track performer Alexis fine race his first of the season augurs well for his chances in next Mondays 10000 Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park ParkImproved Improved Weather Conditions ConditionsVastly Vastly improved weather conditions and an exceptionally fine program brought out an enthusiastic throng of approximately 11000 Although he boasts of a superior mudmark Cock Feather held only scat ¬ tered support in the feature and paid 1380 The winner shouldered 115 pounds and was clocked the six furlongs in 115 Vs VsThe The six Longwood starters were off in perfect alignment with Cock Feather quick ¬ ly asserting his superiority by racing out to a length lead at the end of the first quarter of a mile with Big Pop on the rail and Alexis in nearest pursuit The leader continued to open up daylight on his rivals rounding the turn und was some two lengths in the van at the head of the stretch with Alexis going easily under his 118 pounds impost his closest rival at this stage stageAlexis Alexis was taken almost to the center of the track for the drive and appeared ready to wrest command near the six ¬ teenth pole but Cock Feather needing only a strong handride by Roberts managed to stave off his rivals sustained charge chargeBig Big Pop who saved ground from start to finish fell back steadily after striving fu tilely to catch the winner through the backstretch and finished fourth a length and a half back of High Trend Gay Gal ¬ lant was outrun almost from the start while finishing fifth and The Shaker also launching his debut was completely out ¬ classed the big gelding stopping almost to a walk in the drive under his heavy impost of 127 pounds
