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John John A. A. Morris Morris Purse Purse to to Albemarle; Albemarle; Valadium Valadium Ekes Ekes Out Out Head Head Triujmpli| Triujmpli| Outgames Devilkin4 At Belmont Park Jockeys Boland and Arcaro Ride Their Hardest Aboard Foes in Harmonica Handicap BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y.— May 25. — Though reduced to four horses representing three interests, the featured Harmonica Handicap proved to be a horse race. Harry LaMontagnes Valadium and Mrs. John W. Hanes Devilkin joined the issue in the upper stretch and fought it out on even terms for the last three furlongs of. the mile with Bill Boland and Eddie Arcaro riding their hardest. Valadium won the bitter struggle by a head, while eight lengths behind Devilkin came King Ranchs Mac Bea, who was coupled with her in the wagering, which was straight only. Ogden Phipps Flirtatious, who set the pace for five furlongs, was another three and a half lengths away, completing the small field. Valadium, who had been a surprise winner of her last start here, paid .80 and stepped the mile in 1:39 over a fast, but slightly dull track. A crowd of 23,439 came out under overcast skies to view the moderate program. Flirtatious Takes Lead Ted Atkinson sent Flirtatious to the front at the start of the Harmonica, which was named for Arnold Hangers Suburban winner of a few years ago, and quickly opened a daylight lead over Devilkin. Valadium was a couple of lengths farther back in the run down the backstretch, while Mac Bea was lapped on her. Arcaro began to scuffle a bit on Devilkin rounding the far turn and the favorite quickly moved to Flirtatious, taking command at the three -furlong pole. At the same time, Boland asked Valadium to run and the Lovely Night mare responded at once. Sailing past the sulky Flirtatious and setting sail for the favorite. Curving for home, Devilkin was a little more than a head in front of her rival, but Valadium appeared to dominate the Devil Diver filly. However, she was unable to draw clear and Arcaros strong finish kept Devilkin going strongly to the end, with Valadium just managing to eke out Continued on Page Thirty-Eight Valadium Ekes Out Head Accounting at Belmont Nips Devilkin in Hard-Fought Battle Down Lone Homestretch Continued from Page One i a head triumph, while giving the impression that she was somewhat better than that margin suggests. Montpeliers Pintor, who had showed some traces of class on the flat as a two-year-old, captured the Belmont National Maiden Hurdle at his second attempt over the hedges. His task was made considerably easier when Earl Phelps seemed unable to control James F. McHughs favored River Jordan, who was very rank, steering him inside and outside, then straight through the sixth hedge. Phelph was unhurt in the inevitable fall. C. Mahlon Klines Brechin finished fast to be second, beaten a length, after having to take up slightly to avoid stepping on River Jordan, while Mill River Stables Eternal son was another three and a half lengths away. Mrs. Esther duPont Weirs Star of Persia was a remote fourth and last to finish. Albert Foot rode Pintor, who paid .70 and required 3:17% to negotiate about a mile and three-quarters of soft track. Miss Katherine von Stade presented the trophy to trainer Ray Woolfe, who accepted it on behalf of Mrs. Marlon duPont Scott.
