view raw text
Bit o Fate Triumphant at Odds On Captures EI Chico For W. Ziegler, Jr. Willie Lester Fortunate to Secure Racing Room on Turn While Chasing Promptness DELAWARE PARK, Stanton, Del., June 29. The featured race at Delaware Park this afternoon was named for El Chico, William Ziegler, Jr.s unbeaten two-year- j old of the 1938 season, and a representative i from the same barn, Bit o Fate, was a 1 punctual .10 favorite in the five-horse j affair. In second position, beaten less than i a length, was Ralph E. Dutchers Prompt- , ness. Three lengths back of the place horse, Circle M Farms Big Mo took a nose photo j from Mrs. A. B. Eklofs Outback, while Mrs. James Carsons Kinsman was four j lengths farther back. Despite the extreme heat, an estimated 1 crowd of 11,500 witnessed the sport as the j Delaware Steeplechase and Race Associa- . tion ushered in the final week of its 32-day , meeting. The action throughout the after- j noon was keen and Bit o Fate gave his , backers many anxious moments before re- turning .20. Willie Lester drove the Wait A Bit six-year-old to the wire while completing a mile and a sixteenth in 1 : 43. Bit o Fate dropped far out of contention in the early running and remained a trailer until the final turn, at which point he began closing in on the field. Lester was fortunate to secure room along the inside throughout his bid and, had it not been for this fact, it is doubtful that the choice could have made the top spot. Forced to Do Best in Drive Promptness had wrested command from the New Castle hopeful, Big Mo, turning into the stretch and appeared a winner untli Bit o Fate loomed from the inside. The latter was forced to do his best during the drive, however, and scored by three-quarters of a length. Form followers received a rude setback in the six-furlong fourth race when their ! odds-on choice, Mrs. Esther duPont Wiers Alf a Mo failed by three parts of a length : to overtake P. Hunter Faulconers Air ; Town. These two completely outdistanced Clyde E. Buckleys Full Circle and three other sophomore fillies. Air Town, a daughter of Air Hero, hadnt been in the money in four previous starts this year and paid 6.80 after being timed in 1:11. Alf a Mo was coming off a pair of dis- tance races and she lacked speed in the early stages to be a trailer. She saved ground to the stretch, then was forced to 1 ease to the outside to assume command and rapidly drew clear. Alf a Mo was gaining on her rival through the final fur-1 long, but Air Town continued on willingly 1 to become the 21st winner of the meeting 1 for Shuk, as compared to 22 for Jack West-rope, the leader.
