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News Again, Brown Booter Triumph Annex Respective Ends of Longfellow Former Nips Closed Door At Wire, While Charfran Colt Turns Back Jamie K. By FRED GALIANI MONMOUTH PARK, Oceanport, N. J., June 23. — In a stirring stretch duel the length of the grassy stretch, Morrie Sidells News Again, an outsider from the New England area, wore down Jaclyn Stables Closed Door to score by the minutest of noses in the first division of the Longfellow Handicap. Willie Hartack, who starts a 10-day suspension Thursday, rode News Again, who came from off the pace to cut down Closed Doors lead in the stretch. Their battle took them far in front of the third horse to finish, Bruce Campbells Ram o War, who was six lengths away. News Again, who had won only once previously in eight starts this year, but which was a turf event at Suffolk, returned 8.60 for his victory and covered the mile in 1:42 over a firm course. Rain fell intermittently through the afternoon, but both the main and turf courses were on the fast side. A crowd of 14,300 turned out for the Longfellow renewal. There was also an upset in the second half of the Longfellow when Charfran Stable s Brown Booter, under 115 pounds, scored by three-quarters of a length over Spring Hill Farms Jamie K., while C. Mahlon Klines Kaster, the favorite and topweight with 120 pounds, finished third after being in the first flight almost all the way. Brown Booter required a second slower for his division and returned 1.20 for his victory. He was ridden by Angel Valen-zuela. Oddly enough, like News Again in the first half, Brown Booters last winning race was a grass event, coming this winter at Hialeah. Cohen Receives Trophy Owner Cohen was presented with a trophy by newly elected NASRC president Frank Menne, of Oregon, while trainer Cliff Howard and jockey Valenzuela were similarly treated by Dr. Charles Lormand, of Paris, France, and 3mmissioner John Hanna, of Canada. With the National Association of State Racing Commissioners in session at Asbury Park, six of them were pressed into presenting trophies for the Longfellow runnings. After News Agains triumph, owner-trainer Morrie Sidell and HfTtack were the recipients of awards. Retiring president Hugh L. Mehorter, commissioners Oscar Obregon and Miguel Perez Pita of Havana, were the presenting trio for the first half. Earns 5,140 Purse News Again won 3,150 net of the gross purse of 8,650 for his second victory of the year. The four-year-old son of Sir Jim James— Baying outgamed Closed Door and both were rigged at 111 pounds, two of which was overweight in News Agains case. V-Two, New Dream and War Command were the battlers in the early part of the race, strung across the track just heads apart. They continued to lead that way until midway of the backstretch, where Closed Door slipped through along the rail, took command and in a brief moment shot away from his field. Shortly after CJosed Door went into the van, the three early pacemakers all yielded, as Ram o War and. News Again came into contention. Turning for home, Closed Door was far in front and appeared an easy winner, but Hartack set News Again after the leader in earnest. Closed Door was under a hard drive to maintain his lead, but he gradually weakened and News Again relentlessly slashed the margin until at the very last moment he poked his nose to the fore. This was the second time Closed Door finished second in the Longfellow. Last year he was awarded second place behind Thasian Herd when Palatial Appetite was disqualified. With 10 horses in each division of the Longfellow, there was no difference in the winning pot. Brown Booter earned 3,150 net for his retired hotel owner. The winner of the second half is a four-year-old son of Our Boots — Portable, and todays victory was his fourth in 14 starts this year. The start of the second half was delayed when Go A Bit unseated Ira Hanford at the start and ran away. He was quickly caught by the outrider and returned to the gate. When the field broke, he showed in front and outraced Soldier Son for the lead. Kaster went right along with this pair as did Bobs Alibi. On the backstretch, Eugene II. moved into contention along the rail, but his position in the van was short lived. Brown Booter was reserved off the early pace, while Jamie K. was allowed to trail during the early stages. Down the backstretch, Brown Booter Continued on Page Fiity-Ont I News Again, Brown Booter Annex Deyided Longfellow Continued from Page Seven shot up on the outside, and by the time the turn had been completed, he was in front. Jamie K. came from last on the arc and was far on the outside as they straightened away for home. . Batcheller was driving hard on Jamie K., but Brown Booter had enough left to stave off the Spring Hill Farm racer. Kaster, who was forcing the pace from the outside, was unable to take advantage of the situation when his early rivals dropped out of it. He was second to Brown
