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Fulton Surprise Hitchcock Winner Leader Throughout Two-Mile Handicap Favored Shipboard Second Oyer Rythminhim; Coveted Ends Up Out of Contention By BOB HORWOOD Staff Correspondent AQUEDUCT, L. I., N. Y., June 16. Leading all the way under a confident ride by Frank "Dooley" Adams, Sanford Stud Farms Fulton captured the 13th running of the 0,450 Hitchcock Steeplechase Handicap by two and a half lengths over Montpeliers heavily burdened Shipboard, the odds-on favorite. Mrs. Mickey Walshs Rythminhim was another length behind at the end of about two miles, despite being crowded back by the favorite rounding the clubhouse turn the second time. Lazy F Ranchs Coveted was six and a half lengths out of the money. Fulton paid 1.00 after getting the distance in a moderate 3:45 and netted ,890 for Stephen "Laddie" Sanford, master of Sanford Stud. The winner is an eight-year-old gelded son of Head Play Larkquest, by Blue Larkspur, who was one of the leading hurdle racers two years ago -and made an auspicious return to the races during the Belmont park meeting. He was receiving 31 pounds from Shipboard. Adams quickly opened a daylight lead with Fulton, while rating his mount on the front end, followed by Coveted, Rythminhim, Conflict, Shipboard, Curly Joe and Jam. The latter jumped no better than usual, making mistakes at almost every fence while trailing the field for the entire journey. No Change in Order of Running The order remained essentially the same for an entire turn of the course, while Shipboard moved up briskly approaching the water jump for the second time. Fulton was still going easily in the van, however, while Coveted was jumping cleanly and Conflict, who has not been seen in two years was running and jumping well, though taking his fences very high. Rounding the clubhouse, turn, Shipboard came in sharply, forcing Pat Smithwick to ease back with Rythminhim. Fulton still led by more than a length, followed by Coveted as they moved into the back-stretch the last time. Nearing the final fences; Shipboard and Conflict moved up to be lapped on Coveted, who appeared to be in close quarters on the rail and began to lose ground at his fences after having gained at the earlier obstacles. While Fulton continued in command, Rythminhim came on again at the final bend, while Albert Foot appeared to be trying to same something with the heavily weighted favorite for the final run to the wire. At the end Shipboard made a valiant effort, but was unable to gain appreciably on the winner, though outfinishing Rythminhim for second money. Coveted tired badly at the end, while Curly Joe had no great opposition from Conflict for fourth honors. Belair Studs Dark Belle, a powerfully built black daughter of Black Tarquin from the Devil Diver mare, Diving Belle, outclassed her five rivals in the Pleasant Valley Purse, drawing away with ease under Jess Higley to score by two and one-half lengths over W. L. Huntleys Kathleen L., who led Saxon Stables Planetrix another length and one-half. Mrs. E. H. Augustus Hide Out was a head out of the money. Dark Belle, who has two wins and a second in four starts, paid and required a sluggish 1:07 for the five one-half furlongs, but was not seriously urged. Stephen Messanas Old Baasket, strongly ridden by Bill Boland, took the. Howard Beach Handicap, sixth race, by a neck over Mrs. B. F. Whitakers Grecian Queen, who ran her best race in two years and almost certainly would have won had she not been taken off the rail by Henry Moreno and forced to circle three leaders at the head of the stretch. Mrs. Joe Goodwins Roman Warbler was only a neck farther back after setting the pace from the start, while it was another six lengths back to C. V. Whitneys Ming Yellow.
