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County County Delight Delight Takes Takes Gallant Gallant Fox; Fox; Bashford Bashford Manor Manor Falls Falls to to Red Red Curtice Curtice Prevails by Neck Over Palestinian Greek Ship Third, Lotowhite Fourth in Thrilling Finish of 0,000 Stake at Jamaica By BOB HORWOOD Staff Correspondent JAMAICA, L. I., N. Y., May 12 — Rokeby Stables County Delight, powerfully ridden by Eric Guerin, captured the thirteenth running of the Gallant Fox Handicap, which brought the Jamaica meeting to a close today, by a neck from Isadore Biebers Palestinian, who was equally strongly ridden by Ted Atkinson. Brookmeade Stables Greek Ship, the favorite, was only a head farther back in the thrilling finish to the mile and three-sixteenths and a scant neck before T. G. Bensons Lotowhite. Brandywine Stables Cochise, who shared topweight with Greek Ship, tired badly and finished seventh. County Delight paid .30 as second choice and Was timed a highly creditable 1:56% over a track that had been packed by last nights rain. A crowd of 33,060 came out in alternately cloudy and sunny weather to view the final program of the meeting at popular Jamaica. Favorites fared well in the first three races, less well thereafter. Nears 00,000 Mark in Earnings County Delight, a four-year-old son of Count Fleet — Matriarch, by Sir Gallahad ni., added 7,900 to his earnings, bringing his seasons total to 4,285 and his lifetime gleanings to 8,135. Before his victory in the Dixie Handicap at Pimlico last week, County Delights chief claim to fame had been a second before Middleground in the Leonard Richards Stakes at Delaware Park last year, a race won by Post Card, and third places in the Widener and Grey Lag Handicaps. He was purchased as a yearling for 2,000 and was unsound most of his career until this season. Rokeby Stable is owned by Paul Mellon, of Upper-ville, Va., where Greek Ship was bred by Mrs. Dodge Sloane. The jockeys had little to say after the Gallant Fox, though Arcaro Greek Ship and McCreary Lotowhite, said they were bothered by Cochise when he tired. McCreary, who started a comeback by winning the Derby last week, said, "We should have won it." Guerin said County Delight ran a "real game race," while Ted Atkinson said of Palestinian, "He was just not good enough and tired through the last eighth." Palestinian, Steel Blue and Cochise had the most early speed as the Gallant Fox field left the gate at the head of the stretch, while Lone Eagle swerved sharply soon after the start, then was blocked momentarily at the clubhouse turn. Curving into the backstretch, Cochise led Steel Blue by Continued on Page Five , I ; ; j J . I ] j ] | County Delight Prevails By Neck in Gallant Fox Beats Palestinian, Greek Ship, Lotowhite at Jamaica in Thriller Continued from Page One a half length, while County Delight was lapped on that one and Lone Eagle was moving up fast along the rail. On the Mark and Palestinian were not far away, while there was ~a wide gap back of Greek Ship, First Nighter and Lotowhite, who trailed. In his run to the far turn, Cochise widened his lead a trifle and Lone Eagle slipped briefly into second place on the inside, closely followed by County Delight, on the outside. Palestinian began his move on the outside at the same time and quickly surged up to join the leaders. At the same time, Greek Ship and Lotowhite began to move up from the rear. County Delight took the lead between the turns, but Palestinian was lapped on him on the outside and Cochise was beginning to falter. Lone Eagle and On the Mark were running out of wind, while Greek Ship and Lotowhite were in high gear. Turning for home, the field fanned out and Greek Ship and Lotowhite iiad to go very wide to escape the tiring Cochise, while County Delight and Palestinian charged down the middle of the track. Palestinian charged hard at County Delight through the stretch and gained slightly. At the same time, Greek Ship and Lotowhite surged up to join themv with Lotowhite appearing a sure winner at the sixteenth pole, when he began to bear in, making it difficult for McCreary to urge him forward. Greek Ship appeared to hang slightly at the same point. At the finish end of the odds board it seemed that Palestinian might get up, but Guerin found new courage in County Delight and the Count Fleet colt actually drew away in the very last stride. Three Rings was scratched, as expected, because there was some moisture in the track, while Thelma Berger was ordered withdrawn after coming to the paddock when Dr. J. G. Catlett, track veterinarian, detected signs of colic.
