view raw text
v — HOWARD WELLS— Sent our Mr. Smug for his winning effort in -the Questionnaire Purse yesterday at Washington. High High Frequency Frequency Routs Routs Detroit Detroit Foes; Foes; Mr. Mr. S S mug mug Stages Stages Whirlwind Whirlwind Finish Finish Beats All for Free In Questionnaire Straus Colt Rallies Strongly After His Early Chances of Lincoln Score Seem Remote WASHINGTON PARK, Homewood, 111., June 8.— David Straus Mr. Smug, a well-behaved son of Alsab out of the Man o* War mare, Miss SmUg, showed that he inherits the distance-running characteristics of his parents when he came from a "mile" out of it to account for the Questionnaire Purse here this afternoon. The strikingly handsome colt, a .80 for favorite in the wagering, appeared to have only a remote chance of victory along the back-stretch and around the turn, but he closed with a powerful charge that proved too much for his adversaries. John Marschs All for Free also showed an impressive effort to gain the place, .with Mrs. Thelma Otts Hasty Freedoms third in the nine-horse field. It was Mr. Smugs second start of the year. Originally he was a nominee for the Kentucky Derby, but failed to train to Howard Wells satisfaction. In the Peabody Memorial here he displayed sparkling stretch speed in his bow and it was on the strength of that effort that most of the 9,531 patrons in attendance backed him so heavily. Mr. Smug is eligible for all of the big three-year-old classics at Arlington and Washington Parks, and before the season is over it may be that he will make the aces of the East, who are due to compete in Chicago stakes, do some fancy stepping. The colt raced the mile in 1:37% under the steadying impost of 119 pounds and he was ably ridden by Mel Peterson, who rode a confident race. Racing Strip at Its Best The weather for the sport was fairly ideal, although the wind that swept the course yesterday still was in evidence. The racing strip was at its best. During the early part of the Questionnaire and until the field straightened out for the drive in the stretch, Red Dawn ran away from his field like a scared rabbit being chased by a greyhound. At one time during the trip he was 10 or 12 lengths to the fore and it seemed that his foes were in another town. But A. D. Riveras attempt to "steal" the race did not produce fruit, for Red Dawn stopped to a walk late in the stretch and finished fifth, when earlier it seemed to many that he couldnt lose. Peterson did not hurry with Mr. Smug. A chronic slow beginner, which kept him from winning more races as a two-year-old, Mr. Smug did not get up any steam until he made the bend into the far turn. There Peterson steered to the inside and Continued on Page Three Mr. Smug Stages Whirlwind Finish To Triumph in Questionnaire Purse Leads AN for Free by A Three-Quarters Length In Lincoln Mile Event Continued from Page One was fortunate to obtain racing room. He went by all but Red Dawn with a rush and when Red Dawn began to tire it was evident that he would catch that one. However, 911 For Free was still very much in the race. He had made his bid from the outside and closed strongly in the last eighth and actually was getting to the Straus colt. Mrs. J. P. Keezeks Peaceful Genie, a filly who lost considerable ground in a previous race, benefitted from Batchellers ride in the fifth and at the finish she was far in front of the favorite, Miss Deductive. A three-year-old daughter of Peace Chance — Genie Palatine, the "winner was last for part of the backstretch run, but Batcheller didnt become flustered and waited until she was well settled into stride before asking her for speed. She moved around her foes on the turn to reach contention and once straightened away for the drive, she dashed up between horses when the contenders spread out and in the last eighth she drew away as if much the best, her margin being five lengths at the line. Miss Deductive forced the pace for a good portion, overhauled the speedy, but faint-hearted Moons End, but was no match for the Keezek colorbearer. Time for the distance was 1:11%. Woolford Farms Legislator, a thoroughbred that once competed against top opposition, has been steadily dropped down the class ladder here of late, but it was not until the opener today when he reached the bottom of the brine barrel — against ,000 platers — that he was able to register. He lacked zip during the early part, but at the head of the stretch, Eldcn Nelson swung him to the outside and there he gradually wore down the leaders to score ► by three quarters of a length. Atomic Energy, the early leader, lasted to hold the place. M. H. VanBergs Ripling Sand accounted for the second and completed a 8.40 Daily Double. Unlike his other races, Rippling Sand was slow to get going and Leon Batcheller did not press him for speed. The nations leading apprentice, jockey made his bid in the last eighth of a mile and the gelded son of Shifting Sands n. — Be Silent, was up in the last few strides to whip Miss Clara by a half-length.