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Platan Takes Armed Forces Purse Has Five Lengths On Ace Destroyer Hasty House Colt May Now Seek Preakness; Churchill Closes Meet Before 20,000 By DON FAIR Staff Correspondent CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 16. — Hasty House Farms Platan, a well-made son of Platter and Tatanne, splashed through the mud and a driving rainstorm here this afternoon to capture the Armed Forces Purse. Sent to the front in the closing day feature by jockey Johnny Adams, the Toledo, Ohio winner reached the end of the mile trip with a five lengths margin Over Mr. and Mrs. Thomas M. Daniels Ace Destroyer, who was eigth lengths before R. A. Paracheks Gulf Stream at the wire. Fourth honors went to Golden Maxim Stables Mokatuck while the G and G Stables favored entry, Money Broker and Alie-Ed, finished far back in the field of nine three-year-olds. A crowd of 20,000 witnessed the finale. Platan took up 113 pounds, nine pounds less than that of the topweighted Money Broker under the Armed Forces allowances and raced the eight furlongs in 1:40%. Second choice in the "tote," the Hasty House Farm colt was held at 12 to 5 to post his second success of the 1953 season. Trotsek Saddles Double Trainer Harry Trotsek. who not only saddled the Armed Forces winner but also sent out Mrs. Gertrude Stergeons Miss Revoked lo win the Marines Purse, stated that he may send Platan to Pimlico for the Preakness. Trotsek will make a final decision in the matter sometime tomorrow. Platan was a sharp factor from the start of the final day headliner, taking command soon after coming out of the chute. Once in front the former Widener colt shook off a good bid from Prince Marque and then entered the home lane with a clear advantage over Ace Destroyer. Jockey Adams wisely rode out Platan, his mount responding with a fine burst of speed while Ace Destroyer was unable to reach the flying victor although taking the place by a wide margin. Major disappointment in the Armed Forces was Money Brokers poor showing, the Half Crown colt could not untrack himself in the soft footing and was unable to reach serious contention at any stage of the running. Money Brokers stablemate Alie-Ed wound up seventh while the former was a trailing eighth. Mrs. Leo Wagners Nickey W., a homebred 10-year-old Jimmy Moran-sired stallion, found the soft footing advantageous and drove to a well-deserved decision in the six-furlong Lt. General Clifton B. Cates Handicap, chief supporting attraction on the half -holiday card. Responding to a well-judged ride from Darrell Madden, the locally-owned victor was along in the last sixteenth to down Mr. and Mrs. Thomas M. Daniels Yea Bama. Third honors in the General Cates fell to Milton Shagrins Shag Tails, while Hasty House Farms Tahitian save fourth money in the field of seven starters. Nickey W. shouldered 113 pounds, which burden was three pounds lighter than that of the topweighted Shag Tails, and stepped the six furlongs through the sticky going in 1:14%. No better than third choice in the "tote." the Wagner stallion returned his straight pool backers 51 to 10. Churchill Downs officials are well satisfied with attendance and totalisator figures during the spring meeting, highlighted by Dark Stars upset triumph in the seventy-ninth running of the Kentucky Derby. Churchill Downs will offer 18 days racing at its 1953 autumn meeting starting Monday, October 26, and concluding Saturday, November 14. Feature events for the fall season will be renewals of the Kentucky Club Stakes, and the Clark Handicap for three-year-olds and upward.
