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Ponder Ponder Returned Returned Peter Peter Pan Pan Victor; Victor; Gangway Gangway Draws Draws Away Away in in La La Salle Salle Derby Winner Closes Fast To Overtake Colonel Mike Prevails by Almost Length * At Belmont; Favored Capot Tires From Early Efforts BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., June 4. — Calumet Farms Ponder closed with a rush in the final quarter of the Peter Pan Handicap today to score by three-quarters of a length over Eugene Jacobs Colonel Mike, who led Clifford Mooers Old Rockport by another half dozen lengths at the end of the mile and a furlong. King Ranchs Curandero was another three parts of a length out of the money, finishing a thoroughly beaten seventh after forcing the pace. After the finish, Atkinson whipped Capot out another eighth, clocked in 2:07 for the mile and a quarter. The Kentucky Derby winner was patiently ridden by Steve Brooks and paid .10 as second choice. After sizzling fractions of :45%, 1:09%, 1:36%, the mile and a furlong was teletimed in 1:49%. A comparatively small Saturday crowd of 32,350 turned out in delightful spring weather, but the favorite players among them found nothing to rejoice about through the Peter Pan. Race Made to Order for Calumet Colt Ponder came back to the winners circle a rundown bandage trailing from his left rear leg. The son of Pensive — Miss Rushin added 3,025 to his earnings, giving him a total of 13,575, all but 00 of which was earned this year. The Peter Pan was his fifth victory in 11 starts in 1949. The Peter Pan was made to order for the Continued on Page Three , . . j Ponder Finishes With Rush To Take Peter Pan Honors Overtakes Colonel Mike at 4 Eighth Pole and Then Draws Off as Capot Goes Unplaced Continued from Page One stretch-running Calumet colt. Curandero slipped through along the rail soon after the start to take the lead before Capot, and the pair faced lapped on each other, with Cochise and Ocean Drive close at hand on the outside in the run down the far side. Colonel Mike was far back, while Ponder had only Pibroch behind him as they rounded the far turn. Curandero continued to lead, with Warren Mehrtens continually looking from side to side, as they reached the three-eighths pole, while Capot began to tire under his topweight of 128 pounds and Cochise moved briefly into second place. Colonel Mike cut the corner and moved up very fast at the same time, while Ponder began to close ground rapidly on the outside. Colonel Mike took the lead at the head of the home lane as Curandero faltered and Capot dropped out of it, while Cochise began to shorten stride. As they straightened away, Ponder loomed up on the outside, literally devouring his rivals, while Old Rockport followed his bid at a respectful distance. Ponder took the lead at the eighth pole, and, though Colonel Mike held on gamely, the Calumet colt quickly dominated and was going away at the .end. Colonel Mikes desperate effort carried him far before Old Rockport, who outfin-ished Curandero in the final strides. Cochise finished fifth, followed by Pibroch, Capot, Ocean Drive and Reveille. Ponder s final three furlongs were separately timed in :38%. After the race, Ted Atkinson said that it was very tough to hold Capot off the pace, as he was very rank and at the end the weight told heavily. Arcaro, who rode Colonel Mike, said "Ponder was the only thing wrong with my horse." Steve Brooks merely said "Ponder ran a good race once we got clear." National Stallion to The Diver Though soundly beaten, Capot was not disgraced, as he was conceding five pounds to the winner and up to 24 to the others, while racing with a burning pace. Ponders race was a duplicate of his brilliant effort in the Derby. Russell A. Firestones The Diver, a son of the young stallion, Devil Diver, scored a driving victory in the 37th running of the National Stallion Stakes, its second running as a split race with colt and filly divisions. Brookmeade Stables More Sun, racing along the inside rail, finished two and a half lengths behind the winner and three lengths before C. V. Whitneys Mr. Trouble. Blue W. and Shock completed the small field. Ovie Scurlock rode The Diver, who was receiving five pounds from his four rivals under the conditions of the race, Devil Diver not having sired a winner prior to December 1, 1947. He returned .60 to his backers and stepped the five furlongs in :57%. The Diver, who won his last start here earlier in the week and was second and sixth in his two earlier efforts, added 5,-080 to his earnings. Greentree Stable, who nominated his sire, received ,635, while Calumet Farm gleaned ,090 for nominating Sun Again, sire of More Sun, and C. V. Whitney received 45 as nominator of Mahmoud, sire of Mr. Trouble. Blue W. broke in front in the National Stallion, but quickly bore over toward the rail, while Mr. Trouble took a slight lead. The Diver was a close third, followed by Shock, while More Sun was a couple of lengths away and running well away from his four rivals on the inside. Mr. Trouble dropped back abruptly when Clarence Picou went to the whip and The Diver responded to Scurlocks urging by opening up a safe lead that More Sun couldnt seriously threaten, though finishing fast. Mr. Trouble and Picou tired badly at the end.
