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My Celeste Annexes Molly Pitcher Finally Successful In Monmouth Stake Morabito Mare Had Finished Second in Three Previous Runnings; Atalanta Second By FRED GALIANI MONMOUTH PARK, Oceanport, N. J., June 27. — After finishing second for three years in a row in the Molly Pitcher Handicap, Miss Constance Morabitos My Celeste finally came through with a whirlwind rush to capture the eighth runningof this event. Rolling through the stretch with powerful strides, the seven-year-old mare scored by four and a half lengths over Darby Dan Farms favored Atalanta, who led from the start. Third came M. G. Dohertys Grandma Josie, while H. A. Grants Occupancy was fourth. My Celeste, a daughter of Neddie — Monida, paid 3.20 and covered the mile and a sixteenth over the fast track in 1:47%. A crowd of 22,871 turned out on a sunny afternoon, which was tempered by a pleasant breeze blowing through the stands. Jockey Logan Batcheller guided My Celeste to her Molly Pitcher victory. The victory was worth 9,550 net to Miss Morabito as the mare finally scored i in her fourth appearance in the stake. It was quite a battle for her after all these years and she picked an appropriate time to score, this afternoon being the 175th anniversary of the Battle of Monmouth, in which Molly Pitcher played the role that earned her undying fame. My Celeste carried 110 pounds in the mile and a sixteenth, receiving seven pounds from Atalanta and La Corredora, the starting top-weights. Had Sprint Prep Earlier in Week The black mare had been prepped for this race early in the week, in a six-furlong race, in which she displayed her usual late foot, coming from far back to finish third. Atalanta and Nilufer went at each other as the field broke and battled it out around the first turn and down the backstretch. My Celeste was last as they traveled down the far side, but made her move approaching the far turn. Midway of the bend, Atalanta and Nilufer were still locked in their battle, as Grandma Josie came up to challenge, while My Celeste made up ground on the rail. As they came around the turn, Nilufer got to the lead, while Atalanta was still hanging on gamely and Grandma Josie moved up into contention. Nilufer and Grandma Josie engaged in a bumping match and Atalanta forged ahead, but My Celeste, who had been taken to the outside, was rolling with irresistible strides. She went flying past the leaders under Batchel-lers urging to win by a wide margin, while Atalanta held on to be third over the New England invader, Grandma Josie. Occupancy, who had been in fourth place for most of the trip, finished in that slot, while La Corredora, who was highly fancied, finished next to last. This is My Celestes last year on the track, following which she will be sent to the farm and enter the breeding ranks. The lightly-weighted J. L. McKnightS Blue Rhymer took the lead at the start of the Roman Handicap and led throughout to win by two and a half lengths.
