Opera Light Registers in Jersey Stakes Prep: Shows Stamina in First Attempt to Go Route; Stormy Petrel Next, Daily Racing Form, 1954-05-25

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! Opera Light Registers In Jersey Stakes Prep Shows Stamina in First Attempt To Go Route; Stormy Petrel Next GARDEN STATE PARK, Camden, N. J., May 24. — C. Lawrences Opera Light, a candidate for the Jersey Stakes here Saturday, may have earned a starting berth in that stake when he scored in the mile and a sixteenth Pennsauken Purse here this afternoon. The three-year-old colt by Opera Hat — Rush Light was making his first attempt to go a distance and he did in a driving finish, holding off the late rush of Clearwater Stables Stormy Petrel, to win by, a length and a quarter. The Kencal Stud Farms Blimey and Potato Chip Farms Repel, an entry finished third and fourth. Opera Light returned 3 to his backers in the crowd of 18,601 and covered the distance in 1:46% under jockey Babe Han-ford. The favorite, Mrs. Ethel Jacobs Dan Giddings, was backed down to 9 to 5 on the strength of two victories in New York, but Continued on Page Forty-Eight Opera Light Registers In Jersey Stakes Prep Shows Stamina in First Attempt To Go Route; Stormy Petrel Next Continued from Page One he was nowhere in the chase this afternoon, finishing next to last. Dan Giddings was fractious in the gate delaying the start with his roughnouse tactics. Willie Hartack, who rode the favorite, injured his back in the melee and took himself off his mount in the eighth race. Opera Light was beaten well off in a section of the Delaware Valley Stakes, a six-furlong event for sophomores, in his second start of the year before this afternoon. Bred and trained by his owner, he won four out of a dozen starts last year. Opera Light was always in contention and was laying third behind Shining On and Repel until the field hit the far turn. There Hanford gradually moved him up on the outside and by the time they were straightened for the run home,, had taken command. Stormy Petrel moved a little later than Opera Light and came between horses for his challenge. At the 70 yard pole, Hanford took a quick look over his shoulder and, seeing Stormy Petrel range up menacingly, went to work with vigor on Opera Light, who responded gamely to win. The Daily Double was on the small side when the combination of Paul Kelleys Lady Sailor and Happy Hill Farms Betty Barr returned 4.20.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1950s/drf1954052501/drf1954052501_1_4
Local Identifier: drf1954052501_1_4
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800