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Handicap de las Americas Goes to Flotanda in Drive Argentine-Bred Beats Morland By Head in Mexico City Stake By J. J. HAHN Staff Correspondent MEXICO, D.F., May 18.— Flotanda, an Argentine-bred son of Bucalco — Fragrant, racing in the colors of Meson El Prado, an establishment owned by Gen. Ramon Rodriguez Familiar and one of the leading breeders in Mexico, won the eleventh running of the 100,000 pesos Handicap de las Americas here yesterday afternoon before the largest crowd of the season. Morland, another bred in the same country as the winner, finished with a cyclonic rush, missing by a head to get the verdict. Lindcrof-ter was third. Thirteen three-year-olds went postward in the mile and one quarter race and following the first three were Tardado, Kings Reward, Circular, Vende-val, My Thumb, Scriptwriter, Peggy Fly and El Maldito. Two others started, Raf-aelito and Nedanus, but Rafaelito crossed his legs and fell after little more than a sixteenth and Nedanus fell over him. Tardado, El Maldito, Scriptwriter, Ven-daval and Peggy Fly made the early pace for the first half mile. The ultimate winner, packing top weight of 127 pounds, was held in reserve and in the sixth place but never more than three lengths to the rear of the leaders. The gray horse moved to Tardado and Scriptwriter entering the stretch and when they straightened out for the drive it appeared it would be a stretch duel between the early leader and the winner. However, Morland, who had been badly outrun, closed with a terrific burst of speed and just failed to get up. The race grossed 4,179 U. S. currency and netted the owner of the winner ,624. The time for the race was 2:081/5, the best time in several years. Jockey Marcos Diaz, a Cuban and who had the mount on Rafaelito, suffered a slight concussion as well as several bruises, while Silvio Quintero, who rode Nedanus, was uninjured, helping carry his fellow rider out of danger before the horses passed a second time.
