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Decathlon Barely Takes Gansett Nursery Stakes Unbeaten Colt Breaks Late, but Catches Our Pleasure Near Wire By JOE HIRSCH NARRAGANSETT PARK, Pawtucket, R. I., June 25. River Divide Farms courageous two-year-old ace Decathlon laid his unblemished record of three wins- on" the line this afternoon in the 1,925 Narra-gansett Nursery Stakes and almost saw it go up in smoke. The juvenile son of Olym-pia Dog Blessed by Bull Dog a 3-10 choice, failed to break with his field as was the case in his first two starts, his rider Gene Martin dropped his whip in the early going, and Greenbrier Stables Our Pleasure had him beaten at the sixteenth pole. But Our Pleasure shied in during the last few yards permitting the dead game Decathlon to score by a thrusting head. The Nursery Stakes proved the toughest I test of his career by far for New Englands leading juvenile. Carrying topweight of 117 pounds and conceding from three to five pounds to the others of the five-horse field, by a combination of circumstances he was forced to battle for the tally during most of the five and a half furlongs and came through in game fashion. For despite Our Pleasures ducking in near the wire, Decathlon enjoyed a slight advantage at that point and would probably have been the victor in any case. There was win wagering only in the Nursery Stakes and Decathlon returned .60 for his fourth triumph of the year. Our Pleasure was second, two and a quarter lengths before E. W. Fergusons Impressed, who was another three and a half lengths to the good of The River, from the estate of M. M. Gettinger. Leo Caillouettes Joes Best completed the field. A crowd of 18,446 including owner Robert J. Dienst looked on under overcast skies, saw Decathlon take down top money of ,050, increasing his 1955 earnings to 8,650. Decathlon was a 5,500 purchase at last seasons yearling sales. He stepped on a nail during his preliminary training and the after-effects of the injury left him with a peculiar side-wheeling motion that must be seen to be appreciated. Decathlon was clocked in 1:05 today, also responsible for quarter and half fractions of :23 and :46 over a strip that was slightly on the dead side. The favorite failed to get off with the others, as Impressed charged from the barrier and showed the way in the early going. Joes Best raced with Impressed as Our Pleasure and Informant both were running before Decathlon began to move. Martin, who dropped his stick leaving the gate, threw his reins out and Decathlon took off in a furious rush, his great speed carrying him to the lead before the head of the far turn. Curving for home, Martin kept him on the rail, and he was a length in front of Impressed at Ihe quarter pole, with Our Pleasure a length and a half backjbut in a contending position. Straightening for the wire, Decathlon enjoyed a half length advantage at the eighth pole when Our Pleasure, with Norman Merrier in the saddle, took out after the leader with a vengeance.
