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4 Royal Vale Outruns Gallant Fox Rivals Revels in Mud at Jamaica to Defeat Cold Command While Crafty Admiral Runs Fourth By BOB HORWOOD Staff Correspondent JAMAICA, L. I., N. Y.. May 2.— Mis. Esther duPont Weirs Royal Vale, who had showed a marked distate for wet tracks, revelled in the mud at Jamaica today to win the 15th running of the 1,400 Gallant Fox Handicap by a length and a half over C. V. Whitneys Cold Command. Mrs. Walter M. Jeffords One Count was the same margin away in third place, while Charfran Stables Crafty Admiral, the short-priced favorite, quit when collared in the backstretch and finished a nose out of the money. Royal Vale, who was smoothly ridden by the veteran Jack Westrope, paid 4.40, .20 and .90 across the board and stepped the mile and three-sixteenths in 1:55%, only a fifth of a second slower than the track record Lucky Draw set under 105 pounds back in 1946. Royal Vale carried 115 pounds today, receiving 14 from One Count and Crafty Admiral and carrying equal weight with Cold Command. 30,623 in Stands The smallest Saturday crowd thus far in the New York season, 30,623, turned out in gloomy, cloudy weather to view this running of the Gallant Fox, which attracted the Horse of the Year in One Count and the handicap champion in Crafty Admiral, as well as the worlds record holder for a mile and a half on grass in Royal Vale. Royal Vale was purchased in England at a dispersal sale and made his American debut in hurdle races. He won his first flat race at Hialeah last year, after having failed in a dash on a sloppy track. Later in that meeting he set his world mark in Continued on Page Forty-Six Royal Vale Revels in Mud To Capture Gallant Fox Furnishes Surprise at Jamaica to Beat Cold Command, One Count Continued from Page One the Miami Beach Handicap. Coming north, he finished third on a "good" track here at Jamaica, then won the Bowie Handicap last Saturday on a fast track. The 9,600 he netted today brought his American earnings to 2,150. The son of Kingsway — Cora Deans, by Coronach, did not race in England and was considered an unsound prospect over there, but has been developed remarkably by Jim Ryan. As expected, Crafty Admiral went to the front a stride or so after the start of the Gallant Fox, though Cold Command was actually first out of the gate. Golden Gloves was a little more than a length behind in the run past the stands and around the turn into the backstretch, followed by Royal Vale, One Count, Cold Command and Lafourche in Indian file. In the run up the backstretch, Kenny Church was rating Crafty Admiral on the lead, but Nick Wall also appeared to have a snug hold on Golden Gloves and be able to go to the leader at any time. However, Westrope made a brisk move with Royal Vale nearing the far turn and quickly surged up to Golden Gloves, then went on to challenge the favorite. Crafty Admiral had been setting a rapid pace, though under restraint, getting the fractions in :23%, :47% and six furlongs in 1:11%, when Royal Vale moved to him. Church went to work on the favorite, but he seemed unable, or unwilling, to respond and Royal Vale quickly drew clear. Golden Gloves also seemed unwilling to extend himself fully when Royal Vale moved past him, but held One Count off until they had turned into the stretch, while Cold Command was still biding his time back in fifth place and on the outside. As Royal Vale drew clear, opening up a four-length lead in the stretch, Cold Command swept up on the outside with a belated rush that carried him past the others, but failed to threaten the winner. One Count finished willingly, but had all he could do to nose out Crafty Admiral for third money, while Golden Gloves chucked it in the final furlong, finishing another half length away in fifth place. Lafourche, who completed the field, trailed all the way. Royal Vale, after taking command, stepped the mile in 1:36% and was widening on the field as he did so. It was a remarkable race in view of the track conditions, and the fact that jockeys Westrope and Ted Atkinson, who had ridden him in his bad races on wet strips, both believed him strictly a fast-track horse. C. T. Chenerys Queens Moon, who won two races early in this meeting, then came back with two bad ones, stormed up on the outside to win the Yankee Witch Purse by a half length from Howell E. Jacksons Ballerina. William Nobles Cedar Jungle was almost three lengths farther back at the end of the six furlongs, while the Ben F. Whitaker entry of Tiny Request and Miss Nancy, who were backed down to odds-on. finished fourth and fifth without ever threatening. Ballerina might have been best in this dash, but was last out of the gate, rushed up to take command above the head of the stretch, then hung in the drive. Jimmy Nichols rode a more patience race on Queens Moon, who moved up steadily after dropping back at the start. The daughter of Hunters Moon IV. paid 6.70 and was timed an acceptable 1:12% for the six panels.
