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: — — r — - Scimitar Whips Invigprator by Neck jKent Stakes Thrills Fans at Delaware County Clare Lapped on Top Pair at Wire; Bad Weather, Track Cut Field to Six By PALMER HEAGERTY Staff Correspondent DELAWARE PARK, Stanton, Del., June 13. — Scimitar, a ,000 claim last year for W. Ellis Johnsons Blue Stone Farm, turned in the outstanding effort of his career this afternoon while scoring a driving victory over Saxon Stables odds-on Invigorator in the sixteenth running of the mile and one-sixteenth, Kent Stakes. In a stirring drive which saw the top trio necks apart, third money fell to Howell E. Jacksons Caesar Did. Brookmeade Stables County Clare was five lengths back in fourth position, followed by Rokeby Stables V-Two and Joseph Sylvester, Jr.s Nebullus. The Kent, first of two important three-year-old events offered here, the other being next weeks Leonard Richards, was a six-of-one and a half-dozen of the other affair when one-half of the 12 overnight entrants declined to start. The major reason was the racing surface, which was turned into a sea of slop by torrential rains just prior to the opening of the program. Despite inclement conditions early in the afternoon, an estimated crowd of 22,500 witnessed the program, with the majority of them completely ignoring Scimitar, who returned 1.10 after . having received a rousing ride from Glen Lasswell. The victorious son of The Sultan— Polly Hastings negotiated the distance in a commendable 1:44% while receiving a 12-pound weight pull from Invigorator, who was highweight under 123 pounds. Race Seen Nationwide on TV The Kent was a stirring race throughout, and was a fitting introduction to Delaware Park for the throng of television viewers who sat in on the first nationwide TV hookup ever eminating from the State of Delaware. Scimitars victory was worth 2,150 to his Paoli, Pa., owner, who gave trainer Warren A. "Jimmy" Croll, Jr., the biggest thrill of his life. Caesar Did, who hasnt won a raca this year, took over the pacemaking honors in the Kent but was not allowed to draw clear as both Scimitar and County Clare raced in close attendance to his pace. There was no change in the running order of the top three, with the first rally being launched by the 9 to 20 favorite, Invigorator, who in : his last start had accounted for the Peter Pan Handicap over Isasmoothie. County Clare, after having been rated to ; midway of the final turn, moved menacingly ! to lodge his challenge and joined Caesar Did • from the outside, as Lasswell moved ] through along the rail with Scimitar. Invigorator, under Nick Shuk, was also on j the inside and following Scimitars path. Invigorator secured room on the inside of Scimitar early in the stretch run and joined ■ the battle for supremacy, as only County Clare showed signs of tiring and j took the easy way out of the fray. Caesar Did, "despite his early efforts, showed remarkable staying qualities and stuck « with the top pair as Scimitar and ] Invigorator gave their utmost during the j final stages. Although possessing ample 3 racing room, Invigorator was unable to 1 make the weight concession to Scimitar and j failed by a neck while holding a similar j advantage over Caesar Did.
