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Tahiti Back in Top Form at Delaware Gains Head Decision Over Odds-On Choice, Repetoire, In Featured Assault Purse By PALMER HEAGERTY Staff Correspondent DELAWARE PARK, Stanon, Del., June 7. Absent from the winners circle for almost two years, Walter M. Jeffords Tahiti returned to the scene of his only victories to account for this afternoons featured Assault Purse. Dueling him through the stretch and failing by a head was the 3-to-5 favorite, Stanley C. Mikells Repetoire, who was also seeking his initial triumph in more than two years. Third money went to Com-panas Stables Ros Clag, who was three and one-half lengths behind the leaders. Delightful weather, with a breeze accompanying the warm rays of the sun, lured a crowd of 14,336, and wagering was again brisk, easily exceeding the million-dollar mark following Saturdays record-breaking handle of ,034,709. Tahiti was ridden by Sam Boulmetis and dashed the six furlongs in 1:11 to reward his backers with .80. Scored in 1952 Dover Tahiti, a four-year-old son of Polynesian Blue Denim, launched his racing career here in 1952 by winning two races in as many starts, including the Dover Stakes. He then was shipped to New York at which point he went wrong in his lone engagement. He was idle until this year, finishing unplaced in a pair of Belmont appearances. Trainer Oscar White had Tahiti razor-sharp for his outing in the Assault as the Jeffords gelding forced right to the front to retain the rail position, as well as a narrow advantage over Alan T. Clarkes Jeannie C. - Repetoire, when unable to keep pace with the top two along the backstretch, was eased from behind to await an opening. Ros Clag moved from the outside, thus preventingRepetoire from taking a similar course. The Mikell racer was actually in close quarters for a half mile. When able to move between horses entering the stretch, Repetoire moved boldly to engage Tahiti. The Jeffords racer was not to be denied, however, and clung tenaciously tohis narrow advantage through the closing sixteenth. t WALTER M. JEFFORDS His homebred Tahiti was successful in the Assault Purse at Delaware Park.
