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Hill Hill Gail Gail Easily Easily Best Best at at Hawthorne; Hawthorne; Marta Marta Speeds Speeds to to Top Top Flight Flight Victory Victory Sunshine Nell Next , To Woodvale Mare Valadium Disappointing Last At Belmont; McCreary Gains Birthday Present on Winner By BOB HORWOOD Staff Correspondent BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I. N. Y., June 17.— Woodvale Farms Marta, who raced without bar plates for the first time in a year, flashed her old-time form in j scoring a three-length triumph in the . 1,450 Top Flight Handicap as the Belmont Park meeting came to a close today. Meyer J. Kaplans Sunshine Nell was a tiring second at the end of the mile and a sixteenth, almost a length before George D Wideners No Score, who led Hal Price Headleys Aesthete by a little more than a length. Harry La Montagnes Valadium finished last in the field of nine, while Mrs. John W. Hanes Devilkin, the second choice, was seventh. The two favorites trailed together to the head of the stretch, where Devilkin made a feeble move. Marta was somewhat neglected by the throng of 18,050 that turned out in delightful weather and paid 2.50 after Conn McCreary hustled her over the distance in • a dazzling 1:42%, only three-fifths off the track record shared by Dot, Hard fester and Bull Reigh. It was the fastest race at the distance in at least two years. Earns Net Purse of 2,350 Martas victory netted 2,350 to owner Royce G. Martin, president of the Autohte Co She is a six-year-old, dark brown mare by Haltal— Jessie Gladys, by Pharamond H., and her previous stakes victories were scored in the Molly Pitcher, Ladies and Vagrancy handicaps. Marta finished a close third to Valadium in her last start here Continued on Page Forty-Six Marta Speeds to Victory In Belmonts Top Flight Valadium Disappointing Last as Sunshine Nell Proves Runner-Up s" Continued from Page One while racing in bar plates because of her damaged feet. Devilkin was first out of the gate in the Top Flight, but quickly dropped back to eighth place, while Valadium was eased back along the rail until- she was last at the end of a quarter. Meanwhile, Aesthete shot into command, followed by Sunshine Nell and Islay Mist, while Marta was in fourth place and running on the outside in the run dandwn the backstretch. Islay Mist dropped out of contention at the far turn, where Marta began to close on the leaders* while Nothirdchance moved up to be a distant fourth. McCreary asked Marta to run passing the three-furlong pole and the big brown mare surged past Aesthete and Sunshine Nell, coming into the stretch a length in the van and widening from there. Sunshine Nell held on fairly well, turning in an improved effort, while No Score closed with a belated rush to take third money from Aesthete in the final yards. Valadium made a weak bid passing the three-furlong pole, then fell back to last place, while Devilkin showed no speed at any stage. Mrs. C. V. Whitney presented a trophy to trainer Woody Stephens, who was representing Mr. Martin. Marta gave Conn McCreary a thirty-second birthday-present. Last year, the "Mighty Mite" celebrated his thirty-first birthday at Suffolk Downs by winning the Yankee Handicap on Blue Man. Today is also Ted Atkinsons birthday, and that veteran is trying to celebrate on Powhatan in the Yankee, Belair Studs Saunterer, a bay son of Shut Out— Marguery, by Sir Gallahad TJI., ran straight down the Widener straightaway to win the fifth race by a half length over Maine Chance Farms FireKing. S. L. Kopalds Kopes Baby, a "good thing" finished well along the inside rail to be third, almost a length behind the runner-up and a half length before Joe W. Browns Mel Leavitt. Greentree Stables Diving Board, a first-time starter by Devil Diver, was slightly favored over the winner, but raced very greenly, spending most of the trip sightseeing, and finished sixth. Jess Higley rode Saunterer, who paid .20 and stepped the four and a half furlongs in :51%. A father and son scored in the hurdle race when Ray Woolfe saddled and Ray Woolfe, Jr., rode Montpeliers Shipboard to a clever victory over Mrs. Ogden Phipps favored Indian Fire. Shipboard, who closely resembles his sire, Battleship, appeared to grab himself at the final turn and pecked at the last hedge, but responded to young Woolfes whip in the stretch and went on to triumph by almost two lengths. Second choice in the wagering, Shipboard paid .30.
