view raw text
Cochise and Post Card Dead-Heat in Brandywine Marks Second Such Finish in Any Stake in Delaware History By PALMER HEAGERTY Staff Correspondent DELAWARE PARK, Stanton, Del., June 2. — For the second time irt Delaware Parks history there was a dead heat in stakes competition when Brandywine Stables Cochise Vnd Mrs. Walter M. Jeffords Post Card finished as a team in this afternoons featured Brandywine Handicap. Three and one-half lengths farther back and separated by only a nose came Thomas G. Bensons Lotowhite and Mrs. Andrew Schuttingers Ferd. Cochise, a five-year-old Boswell colt, toted 123 pounds and was cleverly handled by Ovie Scurlock, while Post Card, with 116 pounds as his impost, was just as creditably ridden by Sam Boulmetis. The two were timed in 1:43% for the mile and a sixteenth, just three-fifths of a second slower than the track record, and their efforts were worth ,000 to their respective owners. Early morning showers failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the racegoers in this sector and there was a crowd of approximately 20,000 on hand for the initial week-end attraction. In that only one trophy was available at the time, Mrs. James Butler, wife of Empire Citys president, was forced Continued on Page Thirty-Six Cochise and Post Card Dead-Heat in Brandywine Marks Second Such Finish in -Any Stake in Delaware History Continued from Page One to make dual presentations, with assurance that a duplicate award would follow. Post Card, a Firethorn — Ace Card four-year-old, was making only his sixth start of the season and accomplishing his second stake success, having won Laurels Maryland Handicap. Cochise was starting for only the fifth time this season and added todays score to a previous one in the Grey Lag. Cochise has now earned 4,700, while Post Card has amassed 8,400 for their respctive owners. Cochise paid .60 and Post Card, .70. Strangely enough, both colts were prominent in the 1950 racing at this course, Cochise won the rich Sussex Handicap, for which hie is now pointing, while Post Card beat sophomores in the Leonard Richards. He, too, will be a starter in next weeks Sussex. Post Card sprinted to the front immediately, while Boulmetis was glancing back to note the positions being taken by his rivals. Mrs. James Carsons Kinsman was a close second early while being rated, with Ferd and Cochise also in close attendance. Mrs. Eben H. Ellison, Jr.s Sun Bahram and Lotowhite were some eight lengths back and heads apart. The running positions were not altered until leaving the backstretch, where Ferd challenged from the outside and engaged Post ,Card, with Kinsman just off them while possessing sufficient room between the pair. Approaching the quarter-pole, Kinsman faltered slightly and Cochise moved into third position, just a half length behind the dueling leaders. At the furlong pole it was still a nip-and-tuck affair, with Post Card getting as .much as a three-quarters of a length advantage in midstretch, as Ferd, apparently burdened by his 125-pound assignment, shortened stride when really set down for the pay drive. Scurlock worked nicely on Cochise in the final test, rousing him sharply with whip pressure, then resorting to a steady and effective hand ride. Post Card clung tenaciously to a narrow lead, however, and it was not until the final stride that Cochise drew to even terms. The driving power of the top pair proved too much for Ferd and he faded steadily, and was beaten by a nose by Lotowhite, who was forced to pick his spots through the stretch. Kinsman faltered badly and was beaten two and one-half lengths by Sun Bahram, who was a length behind the fourth horse. The Kiamensi Handicap series had the first of five "runnings as the sixth race and the winner by a length and a quarter was Brookmeade Stables Blue Hills, a powerful Blue Larkspur gelding who was ridden by Ronnie Nash. In second position was Joseph Gavegnanos Pensava, with Circle M Farms Endurable third. The winner paid 1.20 and was timed the mile and a sixteenth in 1:43%. Gorgeous Reded, second in a division of the Acorn Stakes in her most recent essay, and with additional general good form to i recommend, was made an even money fa-I vorite in the second event, but met defeat after being in close quarters while attempting to rally after a half mile. She finished second, beaten a half length by John J. McCarthy Ginger Boots. In third position was Mrs. P. A. B. Widener, n.s, Fox Run. Ginger Boots was smartly handled by the veteran Fernando Fernandez and paid .50 after completing the mile and a sixteenth in 1:46%. He also completed a 5.80 Daily Double for those patrons who coupled him with Gallant Jake, first race winner. i
