view raw text
► Hand Finished and Signal Code In Washington Park Dead Heat ► Denemark Filly, Keezek Colt Divide Gallant Knight Purse Honors After Thrilling Duel By J. J. MURPHY Staff Correspondent WASHINGTON PARK, Homewood, 111., May 17. — The Illinois-bred and owner Hand Finished, ridden by Job Dean Jessop, held J. P. Keezeks Signal Code to a dead heat in the best race at Washington Park today. It was the first start of the Chicago season for each, and they battled it out all through the last sixteenth to finish even up. Signal Code, who had the more impressive recent record of the two, was third choice in the wagering, and his rival was an outsider. Third money went to the faltering favorite, Asphalt, while Greytown, the second choice, was never a serious contender. Hand Finished carried the silks of Mrs. Emil Dene-mark, while Signal Code was piloted by Johnny Adams. The start of the race, a claiming affair named the Gallant Bright, was delayed briefly while Eye Catcher attempted to turn a somersault in the gate and threw jockey Smith. The filly was on her* toes at the start, however, followed Asphalt, the pacemaker, closely for a half mile before fading. With Eye Catcher relegated to the limbo of losers, Asphalt had things much her own way turning for home and saving ground seemed to be breezing nearing the eighth pole. The miss, who won her last start at Keeneland by eight lengths, then began to tire and was passed by the first pair, who went on to split the money. Haze Hangs Over Track A haze hung over the track during, most of the afternoon and those without benefit of binoculars found it difficult to follow the progress of the various contestants. The gathering totaled 7,090. Albulil, a nine-year-old who finished second in the 1947 Crete Handicap, had a trifle too much class for. the field in the opening race and wore down the paceset-ting Shaffie to get to the front in the last eighth. Shaffie scooted to the front early and lengthened on his field, but Albulil took over when the Blossom Stables runner showed weakness in the stretch to finish a length before the favored Kapinisca. Gerald Porch was the winning rider. A 16.40 Daily Double was completed when 40-year-old jockey John Matson had the 10-year-old outsider, Vanslam, up in time to beat the early leader, Dasha, in the second tilt. It was the first victory in some time for Matson, who has been training some horses. Kendor, backed from 30-1 on the morning line to favoritism, was off slowly and raced wide in the stretch. Favorite players were rewarded in the third race when Timus, recently claimed by William Hal Bishop, finished 12 lengths in front of the field. The race was simply a cake-walk for the three-year-old, who headed the field early. Harold Keene was the winning rider. .Jockey Tony Skoronski brought Royal Challa from some distance out of* it to take the money in the fourth event, with Much Pleasure second and Garrett C. third. Grand Isle was the favorite here but was in rather tight quarters on the inside early and failed to threaten. The finish of the fifth was a humdinger Continued on Page Forty-Three Hand Finished and Signal Code In Washington Park Dead Heat Continued from Page One between Chance Cloud, medium of a heavy play, and the rather lightly regarded Char S. V. The latter outran his rival most of the way despite the fact that Chance Cloud was saving ground, and held on mighty well in the final drive. Town Sheik, who was the second choice, might have been best but did not get going until too late and was a strong running third. Avelino Gomez was the winning rider. •
