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Errard Errard s s Guide Guide Triumphant Triumphant in in Joliet; Joliet; Battlefield Battlefield Withers Withers Victor Victor by by Head Head Jumbo Gives Way In Stretch Battle Duel of Leaders Puts Them Well Before Others; Widener Colt Timed Mile in 1 :354/S By BOB HORWOOD Staff Correspondent BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., May 26. — George D. Wideners Battlefield ran as fast as three-year-olds have ever run in the Withers Stakes today, winning the seventy-sixth running of the classic mile by a head from Hal Price Headleys Jumbo after a duel that lasted the length of the stretch. It was five lengths back to Phantom Farms Nullify, who led Larry MacPhails General Staff. C. V. Whitneys Counterpoint, Greentree Stables Northern Star and Howell E. Jacksons Due East completed the field, strung out at the end. Battlefield stepped the mile in 1:35%, equalling the stake record held by Man o War, Snob n., Johnstown and, last year, Hill Prince, four pretty fair horses. The throng of 36,249 who turned out in warm, sultry weather despite the opening of Jones Beach, made Battlefield a torrid favorite and the War Relic colt rewarded his followers at the rate of .40 for . Widener was rewarded with 0,600 and a trophy presented by John Bruce, former U, S. ambassador to Argentina. The Withers gives Battlefield a 1951 record of two wins and two seconds and boosted his total earnings to 24,877. Belmont Stakes Next Engagement . This was Battlefields first attempt to go a mile and it must be said that he had to do his best to get theflistance. However, Arcaro didnt lay a stick on him, though shaking it near his head at the furlong pole and he was beating a colt who had de--feated him in, the fastest edition of the Swift Stakes at seven furlongs 10 days ago. The fractions attest the quality of the performances of both colts, :22%, :45%, 1:09% and seven furlongs in 1:22%. Battlefields next engagement will be in the Belmont Stakes at a mile and a half on June 16, in which he will meet Count Turf and Bold, the Derby and Preakness winners, though there is a chance he will start in the Peter Pan at a mile and a furlong on June 9. After the Withers, Arcaro said, "I might have moved a little too soon with him, but Jumbo was going so smoothly that I just had to go after him. There was no need to hit him, I just waved the stick at him. I hope to ride him back in the, Peter Pan. It was a big race." Trainer Bert Mulholland indicated earlier that he was not too anxious to start Battlefield in the Peter Pan, which is a handicap. Eric Guerin, who rode Jumbo, said simply, "He had no excuse." Jumbo surprised more by the fact that for the first time this year he stayed near the rail at Continued on Page Five Battlefield Triumphs Over Jumbo in Withers Choice Gets Nod After Thrilling Duel Down Stretch at Belmont Continued from Page One the stretch turn, than by his excellent performance. Due East, Jumbo, Northern Star and Battlefield came out of the gate, far across the huge Belmont track, almost on a line at the start of the Withers, but Battlefield quickly dropped back to fifth place, while Jumbo moved up along the rail to take a clear lead after a furlong. At the end of a quarter, Jumbo was two lengths in front of Northern Star, who was racing under restraint a length before Due East, Battlefield, who was coming on again, and General Staff, who were closely bunched. Nullify was another length away in sixth place, followed by Counterpoint. As Jumbo continued to lead around the turn, racing with an apparently effortless action, Battlefield moved up on. the outside to take second place, a length behind the pacemaker, and a head before Northern Star. General Staff was a length away and Nullify was beginning to close ground slowly as Due East dropped back. In the run around the turns, Arcaro kept Battlefield right at Jumbos heels, unable to go inside of that big colt and evidently afraid to move outside of him, lest he carry him wide. Northern-Star stopped abruptly and Nullify moved up to be lapped on General Staff, but no one had eyes for any but Jumbo and Battlefield. As they straightened away for the run home, Arcaro began to shove hard on Battlefield and quickly ranged up beside Jumbo, but the big son of Menow was by no means through and held a head lead for the first half of the long stretch. Both Guerin and Arcaro sat down to strong hand rides and Battlefield took command at the eighth pole, appearing about to draw away. Guerin found another ounce in Jumbo, however, and the big colt fought on again, but Battlefield held him safe as they reached the wire with their heads bobbing alternately, but the winners always clearly in front. Their struggle drew them far away from the others, with Nullify having no trouble disposing of General Staff for third honors, but failing to menace the leaders. Battlefield again raced without blinkers, equipment he wore when winning the Hopeful, an overnight race, and the Futurity last year, but didnt have in his other seven victories in 1950 or any of his races this year. Some observers thought that he might have drawn away from Jumbo more readily had he worn the hood. The racing strip was somewhat slower today than it had been earlier in the meeting, a fact made evident in the Corydon Handicap that followed the Withers. Og-den Phipps Busanda won the mile and a sixteenth in 1 :43% after getting the mile in 1:36%, while Rock Span, who ran a mile here in 1:35 last week, beat one horse in the field of seven.
