view raw text
New Jersey By Bob McCurley Deack Duncan Almost Pulls Off Big Upset Talent Shot Wins Valley Forge in Thriller Cedar Brook Set for Delaware Valley Stakes GARDEN STATE PARK, Camden, N. J., May 4.— With Brunetti and Piarullis Vertex in New York and the Boncrist Farms Backbone remaining in his stall. Mrs. Ada L. Rices Talent Show captured his second straight • stakes of the season when he won the Valley Forge Handicap here Saturday afternoon as Garden State Park inaugurated its 18th season of thoroughbred racing. The four-year-old Olympia gelding, who shared highweight honors of 118 pounds with C. Mahlon Klines Mystic II., had no easy task in adding the VF to his score in the Laurel Futurity, get- ting up in the final stride to win by a head from John S. Kellys surprising Deack Duncan. The latter, so lightly regarded that he was weighted at only 108 pounds and was sent off at 13 -to-1 in the wagering, almost pulled off one of the seasons major upsets. With contract rider Bobby Corle in the saddle the four-year-old High Bandit gelding went to the front at the start and made every inch of the pace until nipped by the favorite right on the wire. Talent Show, who had to withstand a claim of foul , before being officially declared the winner of the Laurel Maturity, was more fortunate Saturday. Despite the fact that he appeared to be trying to lug in through much of the drive, herding Elmendorfs Day Court and Mystic II. inside him, his victory was not challenged. However, he seemed to be the one responsible for the foul claim by Mike Sorrentino on Mystic II., who finished fourth, against Walter Blum on Day Court, the third horse, for interference in the drive. However, the stewards dismissed the claim. Camden Handicap Next In the Maturity, Jack Leonard, who is the contract rider for all the Rice establishment and has handled Talent Show in practically all of his races, ran down Walter M. Jeffords Piano Jim in mid-stretch, then came over rather sharply once clear to win drawing off by a length and a quarter. Bobby Ussery on Piano Jim promptly claimed foul, but it did not stand as Leonard was clear when he moved over with the winner. Following his victory, Saturday, trainer Clyde Troutt opined that Talent Shows next start would probably be in the 0,000 Camden Handicap here May 23. Troutt and Leonard combined talents to score another victory for the Rice stable in the race preceding the Valley Forge on Saturday and that effort carried with a good deal of importance too. Leonard had Cedar Brook, a three-year-old One Count colt, up for a handy, two and one-half length victory in a 6 furlongs prep for this coming week-ends Delaware Valley Stakes. Strung out behind him were five other eligibles for the 5,000 stake, including Cary C. Boshamers Carolina Joy and Reginald N. Websters Royal Anthem. Cedar Brook, who captured a division of Tropical Parks Alligator Handicap last November for his lone stakes victory to date, boosted his stock considerably with his facile triumph Saturday. He headed for the lead down the backstretch, he took a slight advantage entering the turn, relinquished it momentarily to Carolina Joy turning into the stretch, came again to dispose of the Johns Joy colt midway of the line and drew out while in hand. Carolina Joy Not Disgraced Carolina Joy was not disgraced in defeat as he was four full lengths clear of Royal Anthem, the third horse, at the wire and appeared to be short. He had not started since finishing fourth behind Mrs. Ben Cohens Bolero in Bowies Governors Cup on March •21, and should be a much tougher horse in the Delaware with Saturdays race in him. He appears to run his best when fresh, as is attested to by victories in his first two starts of the season, including Bowies George Washington Stakes. Royal Anthem was the scourge of the Jersey-breds last season, winning the New Jersey Futurity, the Homebred Handicap and the New Jersey Breeders Stakes in a sweep of the three races which equaled Bohemia Stables Ambehaving feat of 1956. The Spy Song juvenile also won Jamaicas Youthful Stakes last season. Prior to his effort Saturday he was unplaced in the Gotham and finished third, through disqualification, to Atoll in the Swift. From The Garden: Backbone, who will probably next be seen under silks in the Camden Handicap, May 23, has lost none of his speed as a recent half mile in :47!4 here indicates. Although blanked in stakes competition this season, the four-year-old son of Worden listed seven added money events among his nine victories last year. . . . Apprentice Bobby Corle loses his bug after today and joins the ranks of journeymen riders. The Imler, Pa., youngster, who is under contract to Washington, D. C, sportsman John S. Kelly, rode 118 winners last season and was the leading apprentice rider at Bowie and Laurel this spring. . . . Mrs. Ada L. Rices Rare Rice, hero of Laurels Chesapeake Stakes, is a possible running mate for Cedar Brook in the Delaware Valley. The Olympia sophomore turned 5 furlongs in 1:00 over the week end.
