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Only Five to Face Decathlon Today Unbeaten River Divide Colt Staunch Favorite to Annex Narragansett Nursery Test By J. N. LYON Staff Correspondent NARRAGANSETT PARK, Pawtucket, R. I., June 24. A compact field of but six two-year-olds have accepted the issue for Saturdays tenth running of the 0,000 added five and a half furlongs Narragansett Nursery Stakes. This renewal of the Nursery Stakes, only juvenile added money event to be contested during this 24-day summer session, has attracted the River Divide Farm!s unbeaten Decathlon, and the smallness of the starting field. is directly attributed to the enviable record this son of Olympia Dog Blessed now possesses. Arrayed against Decathlon will be Leo J. Caillouettes Joes Best, E. W. Fergusons Impressed, The River from the estate of M. M. Gettinger, Greenbrier Stables Our Pleasure and Ave Poseys Mock Jr. With the above-named six going post-ward the gross purse for the event will total 2,025 and the winner will net ,150. Decathlon in three races to date has an unblemished record, while at the same time enjoying the unique position of having established track records in his last two efforts. The colt commenced-his career at Suffolk Downs onMay 5, when he won a maiden event at four and one-half furlongs, winning easily and racing within two-fifths of the 14-year-old track record for the distance. Next Start Nine Days Later Rollie Shepp, trainer of Decathlon, next brought his charge out in an allowance event at the same distance just nine days later, and after seeing the colt get "left" at the gate, he had the pleasure of seeing Decathlon display some of his blazing speed, recovering quickly to take over the lead before the field had gone three-six-tenths of a mile and coast home a three-quarter length winner. He clipped two-fifths of a second off the track record of. :53 for the distance. It was just two weesk later that Decathlon made his next appearance, this time against the sternest opposition yet, for he met Dark Charger andGetthere Jack in the five - furlong Bay State Kindergarten Stakes. In this event the colt broke smartly from the gate to take the led immediately and while never being headed he coasted home a length and a half in front of Dark Charger, while the favorite, Getthere Jack, was forced to be content with the show money. Decathlon established another track record when he clipped one-fifth of a second off the mark in this race. Many point out that Getthere Jack, winner of seven of nine starts to date and one of the ranking juveniles in the country, had no chance in the Kindergarten for he bolted on the turn. That may be correct. However, at the time the Lily-Ann Stable star did the runout act he was a good three lengths back of Decathlon and seemingly not in a very good position to ever run down the winner. m The River appears to be the one most likely to push the favorite, for he not only finished second to him in his four and one-half furlong record breaking romp, but also finished second to the good filly Dark Charger in one of her fast victories. Just two weeks ago here The River came through with a track record-equalling performance when he defeated Impressed by a half length in :59.
