view raw text
JOHN HAY WHITNEY — Who with his sister maintains the Greentree Stable, which establishments colors were carried to their third success in the Belmont Stakes by Capot and to their first success in the Kent at Delaware Park by Wine List. Holds Fast-Finishing Ponder] Safe for Half-Length Score Greentree Colt Leads Almostt Entire Mile and Half Journey Under Atkinsons Good Ride BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., June 11.; — Greentree Stables Capot, beautifully rated at a false pace by Ted Atkinson, captured the eighty-first running of the classic Belmont Stakes by a half length from Calumet Farms Ponder, the odds-on favorite. Isidore Biebers Palestinian finished a half length back, after vying for the the lead with Capot from the start of the mile and a half, while Mrs. Eben H. Ellisons Sun Bahrain was 12 lengths away in fourth place. Neglected in the wagering because of his defeat in the Peter Pan last Saturday, Capot returned 3.20. The time was a creditable 2:30Vs after a slow early pace that saw the first quarter covered in :25%, half in :51%, three-quarters in 1:15% and the mile in 1:39%. The mile and a quarter was clocked in 2:04%, which means the last quarter was run in :25%. A throng of 40,421 patrons turned out in humid, sunny weather, with notables of the worlds of sport, fashion, politics and business overflowing the paddock and clubhouse. John Hay Whitney and his sister, Mrs. Charles Shipman Payson, were in the winners circle to greet the son of Menow — Piquet whom they bred. Capot added 0,900 to his earnings, bringing his total to 73,885. The colt, at least for the moment, also earned the right to be considered the champion three-year-old, having finished second to Ponder in the Kentucky Derby, then won the Preakness in which the Calumet colt finished fourth, and today giving the lie to those who insisted he could not get a distance. Halt, Old Rockport, Saint Nicholas and Engel Man finished behind the placed horses in that order. Capot Sent to Front Atkinson sent Capot to the front soon after the horses left the starting gate, directly before the stands, while Arcaro moved into second place, followed by Old Rockport, Sun Bahram, Engel Man, Halt, Saint Nicholas and Ponder. The favorite was not more than 10 lengths behind the leader at any stage. Moving down the backstretch, Arcaro sensed the dangerously slow pace and sent Palestinian up to challenge, taking a brief lead between calls, but Capot immediately responded as Atkinson let out a notch and quickly regained command. As they continued down the far side, Palestinian challenged a second time, and again Capot moved away to a length lead. At this stage, Sun Bahram was a distant third, closely followed by Old Rockport, while Ponder was still in last place. Ponder started to move up at the three-eighths pole, then was taken to the outside by Steve Brooks and began to close fast on the" outside. Capot came into the stretch a length before Palestinian, while Ponder had moved into third place and was still a little more than three lengths behind the leaders. As they straightened away for the run home, Palestinian made a last desperate effort, but failed to gain as Atkinson went to the whip on Capot and the Menow colt fought on gamely. As Palestinian "fired and fell back," Ponder set sail with a final Continued on Page Two 1 Capot Annexes Belmont In Splendid Performance Holds Fast-Finishing Ponder Safe for Half-Length Score Continued from Page One furious run. Though gaining steadily through • the stretch, he was unable to seriously threaten Capot, who had too much left. After the race, Atkinson said, "We had no difficulties and the race went pretty much according to the blueprint. I am very much elated." Steve Brooks made it short and sweet, saying, "we got shut off and it cost us the race." Harold Keene, who rode Saint Nicholas, said, "the hole opened and we went through." "The hole" was an opening that developed at the three-eighths pole and Saint Nicholas beat Ponder to it, forcing Brooks to take out and go around. Before the race, Atkinson had said that Capot could be rated in front, but became impossible to hold if another horse passed him. That was demonstrated in the Belmont, when he set a slow pace until Palestinian passed him, then immediately charged to the lead, with the only two really fast quarters of the race coming at that stage, from the half-mile to the mile. The first of those quarters was run in :23% and the second in :24and, the half in :47%. That half mile cooked everything but Capot and Ponder, who was still far back. Atkinson had one of the best afternoons of his career, preceding his triumph in the Belmont by taking both two-year-old races on James Cox Bradys Casemate and Greentrees Androcles.
