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♦ . — .„„,„. „,,„,,, , JOCKEY CARSON KIRK— Carried off riding honors at Pimlico. Laran Takes Baltimore Spring Handicap for His Third in Row Outdistances Opposition in Stretch for Easy Tally; Kirk Rides Four Winners on Card PIMLICO, Baltimore, Md., May 10.— E. A. Nicodemus vastly improved five-year-old gelding, Laran, maintained his unblemished record for the season when he scored his initial stakes triumph in the ,500 Baltimore Spring Handicap today. Circling the field on the stretch bend, Laran outdistanced his opposition through the stretch and, while winning by three and one-half lengths, completed the second triple in as many days for jockey Carson Kirk. Kirk made it four winners when he guided American Wolf to victory in the seventh race. Laran, in scoring his third success in as many appearances this year, triumphed at the direct expense of Christiana Stables Mark Up, with Richard E. Carters Snow-flares third in the six-horse field. Helen Reinemans Carrara Marble, Lazy F Ranchs Nathaniel and W. Y. Goldsbor-ough, who raced coupled with the winner, completed the field. Weather for the afternoon was anything but pleasant, with fog moving in at intervals and raindrops peppering the sloppy track on occasions. Despite conditions, a fair crowd of 10,039 was on hand and they experienced difficulty with their selections, Carrara Marble being their sixth consecutive loser. Laran, while negotiating the six furlongs in l:121/5, was a lukewarm second choice at .40. Lags Behind in Early Running Kirk allowed Laran to lag behind the field in the early running as Mark Up attained a slight lead over Snowflares and Nathaniel. Once asked for speed, Laran responded willingly and moved around the field to show in front entering the home lane. From that point to the wire it was merely a matter of by how far he would win. The only real battle for money positions developed for second money, with Mark Up saving that position by a half length while tiring. Snowflares may have been second had he not been crowded briefly by Mark Up during the stretch run. The victory was worth ,685 to owner Nicodemus, who also received a handsome trophy from John O. Needles, secretary of the Maryland Jockey Club. Calumet Farms Pep Well, winner of this event in 1947, and first home in the recent Philadelphia Handicap at Havre de Grace, was deprived of a starting position this afternoon when the track came up sloppy. High Ground Stables Hy was an easy winner of the six-furlong fifth race, being the second winner in jockey Kirks string. The three - year - old Hyperionion filly sprinted away from her opposition through the stretch and was three lengths clear in 1:14. H. P. Metcalfs Miss Whippet took a photo decision from Undercurrent. The latter, King Ranchs Pimlico Oaks eligible, was practically eliminated as a threat for that event when she was soundly beaten as an odds-on choice. Hy was overlooked in the betting and paid 8.80.
