view raw text
Invigorator Gains Edgemere Honors JDefeats Matagorda In Aqueduct Stake Saxon Stable Runner Holds Two-Length Edge; Smallest Saturday Crowd of 54 Out By BOB HORWOOD Staff Correspondent AQUEDUCT, L. I., N. Y., June 26. The smallest Saturday crowd at a New York track since the season opened on April 1, 27,164 sweltering fans, was rewarded by the victory of Saxon Stables favored Invigorator in the forty-second running of the Edgemere Handicap. Eric Guerin hand rode the Brookfield colt to the end of the mile and a furlong two lengths before Joe W. Browns Matagorda, who led W. Haggin Perrys consistent Domquil another length and three-quarters. Killiari Farms Resilient was almost a length out of the money at the finish after forcing the winners pace a good part of .the way. Invigorator, though he was scoring his first victory of the year and was able to win only one of 11 starts last year, paid .50, being supported on the strength of his known class and his good second to Pind in the Queens County Handicap here. The four-year-old required 1:52 for the nine furlongs on a dead track that was made to seem lightning fast by the somewhat sensational Martyr in the fifth race, and netted Messrs. Allison and Prestridge 9,950 of the 9,000 gross purse. Guerin in Saddle Armageddon went to the front along the inside rail at the start of the Edgemere. Guerin kept Invigorator lapped on the one-eyed horse in the run around the clubhouse turn and down the backstretch, while Resilient was a couple of lengths behind and a wider margin before County Clare and Mandingo. Domquil, under kraps, Matagorda and Bassanio brought up the rear. "Convertible Conn" McCreary had one of his rare opportunities to display his front-riding ability in the Greenfield Purse when he steered Mrs. Jan Burkes vastly improved Martyr to a nine-length triumph over Mrs. Ethel D. Jacobs Paper Tiger. The gelded son of By Jimminy-Galladare, by Challenger H. broke alertly, took the lead at the end of a quarter and widened from there, rolling through the stretch with his dimunitive pilot looking for opposition over both shoulders as he completed the journey in a sparkling 1:11 for the six furlongs. This was the fastest six furlongs since Mr. Turf won in 1:10 on June 15 when the track appreciably faster than it is at present, and was the third straight for Martyr, who shapes up as .at least another Squared Away, who was also moved from the claiming ranks to the head of the sprinting division by G. C. "Cary" Winfrey. Invigorator Moves Into Command Stephen Messanas Old Baasket finished a half length behind Paper Tiger in third place, with Max Kahlbaums Carnival Cat another three lengths out of the money. Invigorator took command as Armageddon faltered coming to the three-furlong pole, while- Resilient moved into second place and Domquil began to close ground on the outside. Matagorda still had only Bassanio behind him at this point, but Dick McLaughlin asked the Brown King colt to move on the turn, steering him between horses as he came to contention. Invigorator drew away to a four-length lead in the upper stretch, but Guerin had to urge him on mildly through the final phase of the test as Matagorda closed steadily. Domquil also finished well, while Resilient tired abruptly in the final sixteenth. c Mandingo finished fifth, without ever threatening, followed by Bassanio, County Clare and Armageddon. Invigorator won the Cowdin and Babylon at two, the Peter Pan at three, while the Edgemere was his fourth stakes triumph, but the colt finished in the money in several other events before suffering an injury at Delaware, almost exactly a year ago. His victory today brought his total gleanings to 36,950.
