view raw text
Counterpoint Counterpoint Turns Turns Back Back Battlefield; Battlefield; Princess Princess Lygia Lygia Takes Takes Miss Miss America America Sets Belmont Park Mark in Peter Pan Whitney Homebreds Handy • Score Scrambles Situation Among Leading Sophomores | By BOB HORWOOD JStaff Correspondent BELMONT PARK, FJmont, L. I., N. Y., June 9. — C. V. Whitneys Counterpoint became the latest three-year-old to scramble the sophomore situation when he stepped the mile and a furlong of the Peter Pan Handicap in track record time of 1:47% today. -The Count Fleet colt reached the finish two and three-quarter lengths before George D. Wideners Battlefield, the odd-on choice, who was trying to concede him nine pounds. It was another two and a quarter lengths back to Greentree Stables Hall of Fame, who had set a sizzling pace to the head of the stretch, while Cain Hoy Stables Battle Morn was almost a length out. of the money, drifting out in the stretch. Dave Gorman rode Counterpoint, • who paid 3.50 as he scored the first stakes victory of his career and the second of any kind in a career of 10 races. He is a homebred son of Count Fleet — Jabot, by Sickle, and started twice as a juvenile, finishing second once. This year, he was unplaced for his debut at Gulfstream Park, romped home in an allowance race at Keeneland, then finished second in the Ben Ali Handicap, third owing to a disqualification in a division of the Blue Grass. Counterpoint then turned in a dull effort in the Kentucky Derby, finished second in the Preak-ness and preceded todays upset by another dull race in the Withers won by Battlefield. Both Earn Places in Belmont Stakes Field Both Counterpoint and Battlefield earned places in the starting field for next Saturdays 00,000 Belmont Stakes, for which Hall of Fame is not eligible. The status of Battle Morn, who might have been closer had he not reverted to an old habit of bearing out, is less certain. None of the others showed anything encouraging, though Big Stretch ran over beaten horses after trailing for six furlongs and finished fifth. Though by no means disgraced, Battlefield was a tired horse at the end of the Peter Pan. and his stamina was not confirmed by his race today. The Belmont is at scale weight, which may make a big difference. A crowd of 33,583, slightly larger than last Saturdays throng, turned out this afternoon. The weather was overcast until the Peter Pan, when the sun broke through timidly and favorites were equally reluctant, only one scoring through the stake. After the Peter Pan, Dave Gorman said, "I rode a good colt today. I didnt want Continued on Page Thirty-Seven Counterpoint Beats Favored Battlefield Sets Belmont Track Record In Peter Pan and Confuses Sophomore Situation Further Continued from Page One to go to the front as soon as T. did, but he insisted on it." Arcaro said Chat Battlefield "ran a good race at the weights. I tried to place him in the early running but couldnt make up the ground on the winner in the last furlong." None of the other jockeys had any excuses, though McCreary said that Big Stretch made up a let of ground in the final three furlongs. Actually, he made up about three lengths from the three-furlong to the eightlu pole, none thereafter. Ted Atkinson sent Hall of Fame to the front at the start of the Peter Pan and quickly opened a lead of three lengths over Away Away and Counterpoint, who raced as a team. Out Point and Falher Tiber, the lightweights, raced together another length and a half away, while Battlefield and Battle Morn, who raced together all the way, were another four, lengths back, followed by Vulcania, with Big Stretch trailing. Hall of Fame continued to lead by daylight in the long run down the backstretch, reeling off the fractions in :22% and :46%. Away Away and Out Point chucked it near the far turn, while Counterpoint moved into second place and began to cut down the pacemakers lead rounding that curve. Battlefield and Battle Morn began to move together at the half-mile pole and were soon in third and fourth places, only a head apart, but about a length -behind Counterpoint, who was lapped on Hall of Fame. I Takes Lead Above Stretch Turn Counterpoint took command above the stretch turn and quickly zoomed into a three-length lead, while Hall of Fame held | on to second place as Battlefield and Bat-, tie Morn charged up strongly. Battle Morn went wide, but, Battlefield quickly passed -the pacemaker and set sail for the leader. For a stride or two as he passed Hall of Fame, it seemed that Battlefield might make it close, if not win, but it soon became evident that Counterpoint was going much too strongly to be caught, or even threatened. Battlefield struggled on willingly, but was only able to gain about a half length in the final furlong, while Counterpoint didnt appear to be fully extended at the end. Hall of Fame held on well, after getting the three-quarters in 1:10, and Battle Morn regained a little of the ground that he lost at the top of the stretch. It seemed duing the race that Arcafo on Battlefield and Guerin on Battle Morn, were studying each other and running a race of their own without regard for the others. C. T. Chenerys Bryan G., who z*! recently won his first start since returning from California, led"" from soon after the start in the Eight Thirty Handicap that precedes the Peter Pan and completed the seven furlongs in 1:22% with Ted Atkinson shaking his stick in mild admonition beside his nose. It was two and a fcW lengths back to T. P. Morgans Vigorous, who come from last place at the three-furlong pole, but was unable to gain in the final eighth. J, M. Roeblings Admiral Drake was another two and a half lengths away-in third place and slightly more tf?«ui two lengths before R. McG. Smiths Sagittarius. Bryan. G. paid a liberal .30. Bryan G.s time was three-fifths slower than Rosebens track record set in 1906 and a fifth slower than Jumbo required in winning the Swift Stakes this spring, but remains, one. of the fastest races ai the distance in Belmont history. He is a son of Blenheim n.— Anthemian, by Pompey.
