Mameluke Finishes Fast To Overtake Battlefield: Scores Stunning Metropolitan Upset Before 39,889 at Belmont, Daily Racing Form, 1952-05-19

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■ — 4 Mameluke Finishes Fast To Overtake Battlefield Scores Stunning Metropolitan Upset Before 39,889 at Belmont By BOB HORWQOD Staff Correspondent BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., May 17. — C. V. Whitneys Mameluke came from last place midway of the journey to capture the fifty-ninth running of the Metropolitan Handicap before 39,889 fans at Belmont Park today. The chestnut son of Mahmoud swept up on the outside with a formidable rush, surging past George D. Wideners favored Battlefield to triumph by a half length, going away. A length and a half back of the favorite, who appeared to have the race won at the sixteenth pole, came Greentree Stables One Hitter, who led Addison Stables Arise by a length. Gerald Porch rode Mameluke, who paid 1.60 and required 1:36% for the mile under 112 pounds.. He was receiving 13 pounds from Battlefield, who showed signs of temperament in the post parade, stopping in his tracks before the stand until escorted by the pony boy, but turned in a willing effort in the stake. Whitney was rewarded with 5,200. Won at Churchill Downs Prior to this stunning triumph, Mamelukes chief claim to fame was a victory in the Blue Grass Stakes last year. He finished far back in the Kentucky Derby after a sensational workout for the race and was retired after being eased up in the Belmont Stakes, won by his stablemate, Counterpoint, at the direct expense of Battlefield. Coming back to the races this spring, Mameluke won his first start easily at Churchill Downs, then finished fast to be sixth in a dash won by Jet Master here last Saturday, going out an additional furlong after the dash, but appearing sore. His underpinning is sad to look at, but the son of Mahmoud — Schwester a sister to Equipoise can run on it at times. The Metropolitan was his second stake victory. Ovie Scurlock, who rode Battlefield, was I injured while at the gate on Wideners Scent in the fourth race. He sat out the fifth with ice packs on his right ankle and | Continued on Page Five Mameluke Finishes Fast To Overtake Battlefield Scores Stunning Metropolitan Upset Before 39#889 at Belmont Continued from Paae One canceled his mounts after the Metropolitan as the member continued to swell. Bryan G. was first away from the gate in the Metropolitan, but Next Move quickly moved up along the rail to take a slight lead, with Greek Ship and Crafty Admiral close at hand in the long run down the backstretch. Mameluke was in tenth place and soon dropped back to eleventh, while Battlefied was also in the rear. Nearing the far turn, Next Move began to shorten stride; while Crafty Admiral moved into command, with Bryan G. also beginning to weaken as Arise came into contention. Battlefield was also steadily picking up horses on the outside. Rounding the wide curve for home, Crafty Admiral led under pressure, but Arise and Battlefied were storming on him, while Mameluke, though still far back, was begining to close ground and passed *One Hitter, who was also beginning a strong run. Though going a trifle wide, Battlefield took command at the head of the stretch and quickly drew clear, while Arise put Crafty Admiral away. Bryan G. and Greek Ship were dropping back, thoroughly beaten and Mameluke had moved into sixth place in front of One Hitter. Though he was moving fastest of all, Mameluke appeared to have an impossible task as Battlefield was going strongly and daylight in the van as he swept past the eighth pole. As Porch sat down to ride a furious finish, Mameluke responded with a powerful rush, his battered legs reaching out for ground with tremendous strides. It was evident a few strides from the finish that the Mahmoud four-year-old was going to win and he surged past Battlefield at the end as though that gallant colt was rooted. After being in close quarters for more than a half-mile, One Hitter finished very well on the outside to take third money from Arise, who was followed by Greek Ship, while Crafty Admiral finished a weary sixth. » After the race, Porch said, "We were lucky to save ground early and when we got through at the head of the stretch he had plenty of run left." Scurlock said that Battlefield "tried his best. He was digging in all the way and it was one of his best efforts." Ted Atkinson said that One Hitter was in close quarters most of the way, while Sammy Boulmetis added that Arise hung. Mill River Stables Big Dipper LT., champion English juvenile of 1950, made his American debut in the seventh race, followed the field throughout the six furlongs while racing far out in the middle of the track and finished last, where he I started. He carried four bandages. Edward Potter, Jrs Longleat won his second race of the week when he outfinished C. T. Chenerys Bakersfield and Jaclyn Stables Uncle Jay in a blanket finish. Eric Guerin, who rode Bakersfield, claimed foul against Ted Atkinson, rider of the winner. After viewing the movies the stewards main- -tained the result. It was a day of refunds. Hudson Valley Stables Trinity Place was found to be lame before the start of the opener and withdrawn on the order of the track veterinarian. Then, George D. Wideners Scent, favorite for the fourth race, reared in the gate, throwing jockey Ovie Scurlock who suffered some damage to his right leg, and injuring himself sufficiently to cause his being scratched.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1950s/drf1952051901/drf1952051901_1_5
Local Identifier: drf1952051901_1_5
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800