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I i I W E I G H I N G I N y EVAN shipman i DELAWARE PARK, Stanton, Md June 28. Taking both Saturdays Delaware Oaks and the recent Kent with three-year-olds bred and developed at home is no small feather in the cap of trainer Richard Handlen and owner and breeder William du-Pont, Jr., while Handlens feat is all the more noteworthy when it is considered that neither Chevation, surprise victor in the Kent, nor the filly, Parlo, whose runaway tactics succeeded on the week end, are strictly first class or likely to be considered among the leaders of the generation. For his part, the Alibhai colt, Chevation, was materially aided by the Kent weights, but Parlos clever victory, as we saw the race, owes more to a brilliant ride from Jack Westrope than to any other contributing factor. Before the start of this Delaware Oaks, the most seriously considered candidates for honors were Cain Hoys Cherokee Rose, Walter M. Jeffords Open Sesame and King Ranchs Riverina, a trio who had finished in the Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont in that order, the finish on Long Island being particularly close between Cherokee Rose and Open Sesame. In this subsequent race, it was never for a moment a question of either the favored Cain Hoy entry or of Riverina. For the final half mile of the nine-furlong distance, the race hinged on whether the front-running Parlo, totally ignored in the wagering, could stick it out against the stubborn attack launched by the belated Open Sesame, or a duel pitting Westrope against Arcaro, rather than filly against filly. At the wire, honors went to Foxcatcher Farm by three parts of a length, the homebred daughter of Heliopolis Fairy Place, by Pilate, owing her score to her own ability to race forwardly and to hang on, and also to Westropes adept , employment of her capabilities. Foxcatcher Sweeps Board on Home Grounds Parlo and Chevation Are Both Big Surprises Fillys Score Owes Muckto Westropes Ride Royal Vale Will Be Extra Sharp for Sussex When the large field left the gate in midstretch for the start of the Delaware Oaks, the most prompt to find their racing legs were Busy Nellie, June Fete, Level Rippey and the eventual winner, Foxcatchers Parlo. In the sprint to the first turn, this quartet was well placed, while Cherokee Rose, Open Sesame and. Riverina, all strongly fancied, were unable to engage the leaders and sought positions at the rail rather than losing ground on the initial bend. When they reached the backstretch, or rather midway of the backstretch, two vitally important developments took place: First, Westrope released his hold on Parlo, disengaging himself from the group composed of Busy Nellie, June Fete, Devils Delight and Level Rippey, and second, Arcaro on Open Sesame began a long run from the rear, a run that had to executed on the outside of bunched horses. Even as they rounded the far turn, the complexion of this Oaks runnings became clear, the picture being a chase involving Parlo and Open Sesame. AAA Westropes initial move shot Parlo out and in the clear, for a three lengths lead. The wise jockey then took his filly in hand, saving what he could for the ultimate drive an extremely sensible precaution. All this time, Arcaro and Open Sesame, the chestnut Mahomud filly answering his appeal generously, were closing ground on the outside of the strung-out field. At the head of the homestretch, Westrope and Parlo, hugging the rail, were leading Busy Nellie by three lengths, Open Sesame two more lengths father back in fourth place at the outside and closing the gap with every jump. At this stage, Open Sesames many friends were confident, but now Westrope, sensing the danger, let out the wrap he had held in reserve. Little by little, Open Sesame, finishing in the middle of the strip, cut down the margin separating her from the leader. At the furlong pole, it was a toss-up as to who would get to the wire first. At the sixteenth pole, it was clear that Parlo, despite Open Sesames brave attempt, could stick it out, and so she did, less than a length separating her from the game little chestnut, while OAlison finished well to take the show award from Busy Nellie. Cherokee Rose for some obscure reason had never raised a gallop, while Riverina merely passed beaten horses to wind up in fifth place. AAA Shortly before the running of the third event on the afternoons program, a sharp thundershower sent the big crowd scuttling for shelter, but the condition of the strip was very little affected by the downpour, remaining fast. Parlo, always right on the pace, can lay claim to all the fractions of the Oaks, her nine furlongs accomplished in a respectable 1:51, first three-quarters in 1:11, first mile in 1:38. The figures speak well for Westropes rating, and they are also eloquent regarding Open Sesames finishing power, the latter stepping her final two panels in approximately :25 flat. Both the winner and the runner-up come in for their share of credit for this race, the difference being that Parlo was "handier" than her rival, more adaptable to a contest over a track possessing Delawares sharp turns and short stretches. Had this Oaks been contested over Belmonts generous oval, Continued on Page Forty-Seven WEIGHING IN I By EVAN SHEPMAN Continued from Page Fifty-Six fjfie order of finish would have been reversed, but that is neither here nor there! AAA Royal Vale, who may now be back at his extraordinary 1953 form, gave us a magnificent exhibition of speed in the sprint immediately following the feature. Mrs. J. R. H. Thourons imported horse all in all, it was a great day for Wilmington owners picked up topweight of 128 pounds and stepped Ws six furlongs in 1:10 over the greasy strip to win as jockey Westrope pleased. This was the second successive score at the distance for the big fellow from England, but this time in Walter M. Jef fords Tahiti and Jouett Shouses fine mare, Cinda, he was meeting specialists of proved quality. Well, he simply played with them, and we believe it is no exaggeration to say that Royal Vale, separately timed, covered his final quarter on Saturday in a shade better than :25, winning eased, mind you. Sharp as he is, who is going to relish the task of measuring strides with Royal Vale in the up-coming Sussex Handicap? Monmouth Reports Increases , MONMOUTH PARK, Oceanport, N. J., June 28. Attendance for the first 13 days of the meeting totaled 187,895 against 180,917 in 1953, an increase of 3.8 per cent. Wagering has hit 5,314,241 compared to 4,686,407 a year ago, the jump being 4.2 per cent. The daily "average attendance is 14,453 against 13,916 and the daily play ,178,018 aaginst ,129,723.
