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Royal Briar Noses Out Thinking Cap JOCKEY R. J. MARTIN— Yesterdays Pimlico saddle star with three winners. Thriller at Pimlico In Old Court Purse Mrs. Ada L. Rices Homebred Sophomore Proves Repeater; R. J. Martin Astride Triple By JOE HIRSCH PIMLICO, Md., May 12.— Royal Briar stood a stretch drive in game fashion this afternoon, wearing down Christiana Stables odds-on choice Thinking Cap in the final strides of the featured Old Court Purse, to bring the cerise and white colors of Mrs. Ada L. Rice home in front a thrusting nose. It was onther three lengths bac kto Ella K. Brysons Admiral Vee. who was a length to the good of Jay Cee Farms Our Country for show money. A crowd of 9,368 turned out in varm weather to make Thinking Cap the 7 -to -10 favorite in the feature off his win in the Pimlico Futurity here last November plus a good score in an allowance event at Belmont in October. In a pair of outings this spring he had showed little but he carried topweight of 122 pounds and figured to be a handy winner. However, Royal Briar proved a game foe and under a heavy ride by C. M. Clark, drove through the final furlong to the tally, returning 1 80 Respond Gains Nose Score A three-year-old Olympia colt from a Roman mare, Royal Briar had won his last outing at Laurel under a drive and had never before traveled the mile and a sixteenth of the Old Court. He got the distance in 1:4525 this afternoon, with the advantage of an 11 -pound pull in the weights. Despite his nose defeat by Royal Btiar, it was not a bad afternoon for Jockey R. J. Martin aboard the runner-up. He registered a triple, with Millie in the first race, Tonnys John in the third and Respond in the sixth. Martin might have made it four, but the saddle slipped from Thinking Cap in the stretch causing the jockey to lose his right stirrup. Admiral Vee was away first, but gave way quickly to Boone Fete, who grabbed the lead along the rail and showed the way to the clubhouse turn. Our Countty attended the pacemaker, a length back with Admiral Vee and Thinking Cap closely locked in the second flight. Down the far side it was Bonne Fete and Our Country, until Thinking Cap made a move as they approached the turn for home. Our Country got the lead between calls as they entered the stretch, but here Martin, seeking a fourth win. brought Thinking Cap to the lead. Clark was moving with Royal Briar and guided this one down the middle of the strip to the leader. Martin got into Thinking Cap, but Royal Briar wore down the favorite in relentless fashion and prevailed in as close. a finish as has been seen here all season. Adds to Laurel Victory Mrs. Royal Firman, Jr.s Respond just managed to win the sixth race, virtually flying through the final sixteenth to score by a thrusting nose over Walter J. Appels Mr. Motion. The crowd bet Respond down to even money favoritism and after the odds-on entry of Ellens Spy and Royal Indian had failed in the preceding race, there was a welcome response for Respond upon his return to the winners circle. Elvin M. Warners Hand Reward was the third horse, a pair of lengths behind Mr. Motion. Respond, a three-year-old Requested gelding from an Alsab mare, was making the second start of his career this afternoon. He won his debut at Laurel on April 19 by three and a half lengths and looks like he might be a good thing for his veteran trainer J. P. "Doc" Jones. Respond paid .40 today and got the six furlongs in 1:12, giving jockey Martin a triple. Mr. Motion was quickest to begin, set a brisk pace down the far side, leading by a length and a half. Martin got into Respond quickly, hustled him to attend the lead as they began to curve for home. The pair put on a splendid duel from that point to the wire, Mr. Motion appearing t 3 gain the nod past the eighth pole. But Martin never gave up and hammered at Respond, who was as good as his name. The days Daily Double combination of Millie in the first race and Carol Ann C, in the second, paid 9.00. j , j 1 1 ,
