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Count Count Turf Turf Wins Wins Polynesian Polynesian Purse; Purse; Circus Circus Clown Clown Ekes Ekes Out Out Head Head Score Score — ■ : * - J. J. AM I EL— His Kentucky Derby winner, Count Turf, returned to action in splendid form to account for the Polynesian Purse at the Belmont Park oval. Bold Runs Third To Combat Boots Kentucky Derby Winner Has Neck Margin to Earn Role Of Favorite for Peter Pan By BOB HORWOOD Staff Correspondent BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y„ June 5. — Jack Amiels Count Turf, the Kentucky Derby winner convinced a small and skeptical crowd at Belmont Park today that he is the colt to beat for three-year-old honors when he came from far off the pace to win the Polynesian Purse. Though the son of Count Fleet only scored by a neck over Putnam-Stables Combat Boots, he was giving that colt a dozen pounds, lost ground by going very wide at the stretch turn and covered the mile and a sixteenth in 1:42%, only two-fifths slower than the track record shared by Dot, Bull Reigh, and Hard Jester. Brookmeade Stables Bold, the Preakness winner, was a 1 to 2 favorite in the small field of three and finished eight lengths back of Combat Boots after bearing out from the far turn to the top of the stretch, despite his trick blinker. Conn McCreary rode Count Turf, who paid .40. There was only straight wagering, Greentree Stables Big Stretch having been scratched during the afternoon because of track conditions. The strip had dried to "good" after being sloppy for the early races, but there was still quite a bit of [ water in the sandy soil. Count Turf added ,250 to his previous earnings of 26,300 and doubtless earned the post of favoritism in Saturdays Peter Pan Handicap, in which he will again carry 126 pounds. Attendance of 17,314 The meeting of the Derby and Preakness winners did not prove the magnet it was expected to be. The attendance was 1T.314 and it turned out under overcast and occasionally moist skies. Bold went to the front as expected at the start of the Polynesian, followed by Combat Boots, while McCreary was content to let Count Turf find his own stride. At the end of a quarter in :22%, Bold was four lengths in front of Combat Boots, jwhile-Count Turf was another 10 lengths in arrears, but McCreary was sitting still with a long rein, obviously awaiting developments The first development came rounding the far turn, when Bold, who had been trying to bear out from the start, really began to give Arcaro trouble. Bennie Green was quick to take advantage of the opening as Bold came away from the rail and roused Combat Boots, shooting him through the opening and quickly taking a daylight lead. Count Turf, without being roused, was closing gradually and was only seven Continued on Page Thirty+Four Count Turf Closes Fast To Win Polynesian Purse Beats Combat Boots by Neck as Fayorite Bold Finishes Third Continued from Page One lengths behind the leader with three furlongs to go. Combat Boots widened his lead rounding the curve to the stretch, while Mc-Creary took Count Turf wide to avoid Bold, who was still drifting out. As they straightened away, McCreary reached back and stung Count Turf once. The Derby winner responded at once, and, though he was still five lengths behind Combat Boots at the eighth pole, it was evident that he was going to win. Count Turf gained with every stride, and Green whipped desperately on Combat Boots through the final yards, but was unable to hold his lead as Count Turf lunged past him right at the wire. After the race, McCreary said "The track was kind of stiff and I was afraid Count Turf might have been a hit short, but he answered all the questions." Arcaro said, "As soon as we came out of the gate, he Bold tried to get out. He ran straight as a die at Pimlico." Bold was smooth plated, while Count Turf and Combat Boots wore stickers, which may have made a difference. Bennie Green, an excited young man, said, "Gee, what I would have given to have beaten those big horses! Just a jump too late." Only 02,966 was wagered on trie feature and Bold would have returned .80, while tickets on Combat Boots were worth 0.60 to the final stride, when they became waste paper. The total wagering was the smallest of the meeting. G.-H. "Pete" Bostwicks Stunts, a stakes winner on the flat who was schooled over hurdles before he ever came to the races, made his debut over hedges in the Carabi-nier Purse today and performed to expectations. Backed down to odds-on and kept under a snug hold by Jim Smiley for two-thirds of the journey, Stunts took command nearing the far turn and went on to triumph easily by -half a dozen lengths over A. C. Randolphs Tellanrun, who finished fast to nose out John Bosley, Jr.s, Short Circuit for the place. William M. Duryeas Halley was a half length out of the money. Rigan McKinneys Politician stumbled on the flat in front of the clubhouse and lost Frank "Dooley" Adams. Stunts paid .70 and was timed in 2:46% over a fast track.
