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Culmone Whips War Tune to Victory Prevails by Head In Blanket Finish Tonys Chance Runner-up, Nose to Good Oyer Eds Day Fn Thrilling Garden Feature By WILLIAM C. PHILLIPS GARDEN STATE PARK, Camden, N. J._, May 8. — Joe Culmone never relinquished slashing away with the whip in his left hand through the stretch run of todays featured Ivy Purse, and Cedar Farms War Tune determinedly dug in and won the laurels. The five-year-old homebred son of Warlock outfinished A. J. OCon-nells Tonys Chance by a head, with the odds-on Calumet Farms entry taking third and fourth honors. Eds Day was third, just a nose behind the second horse, and Scotsmans Bond was another three-quarters of a length out of the money. War Tune was second choice among a crowd of 17,339 and he paid 0.80. The track, which was termed good for the early events, was officially fast for the feature, but on the dull side. War Tune carried 117 pounds and he ran a mile and a sixteenth in 1:44%. War Tunes victory was history repeating itself. The Mr. and Mrs. John Bromley-owned horse earned his last triumph at Garden State Park last October 18, a race 3a which Calumets Scotsmans Bond was P the heavy favorite arid finished third. Joe Culmone rode War Tune with similar tac-! .tics that day and in that race he carried 119 pounds in 1:44. Three Engage in Stretch Duel The sun-bathed but wind-chilled patrons witnessed a thrilling stretch battle in the feature, with the lead bitterly contested by the first three arriving at the wire. Oyie Scurlock had slipped Eds Day through on the rail to take command leaving the half-mile marker, while Tonys Chance and War Tune were still back of the first flight and racing on the outside. Willie Hartack had taken Scotsmans Bond back at" the start, had difficulty finding spots to improve position in the field, and he also took to the outside on the turn. Culmone acted quickly when an opening came between rivals and he ducked between them to gain an advantage on Tonys Chance midway of the turn. The ultimate winner was again steered to the outside at the head of the stretch, and he then carried on his determined challenge. Culmone did briefly let up on punishment after taking a short lead inside the furlong marker, but War Tune started to hang, and Joe returned to his energetic whipping to protect the advantage through the last yards. Scotsmans Bond lost ground remaining on the outside, and he was coming fastest of all at the end. Triangle Stables Grafton Street supplied the spice in the early races when he * pushed his nose in front of Ruffalo Bros. Postal in the last stride of the six-furlong Northfield Purse to return a 5.80 mutuel. The winning sophomore, recently claimed by the John McAuliffe-owned stable, was competently ridden by Charlie Burr who saved ground and had him well placed at all stages. Postal, an easy winner in his first essay at the meeting, held the lead until the last instant and he finished a length and one-half in front of Green Dunes Farms Royal Beacon II. Time for the sprint was 1:11%.
