Three Preakness Hopes Vie Today; Sonny Dan Outfinishes Sharpsburg: Runs Fastest Six Furlongs of Meet; Nose Victory in 1:11 3/5 Gives Leonard Double and Deprives Howard Grant of Fourth Win, Daily Racing Form, 1959-05-08

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EMANUEL COHEN— Co-owner with his wife of Victory Stable whose Sonny Dan won the New Jersey Chiefs Purse at Garden State Park. Three Three Preakness Preakness Hopes Hopes Vie Vie Today; Today; Sonny Sonny Dan Dan Outfinishes Outfinishes Sharpsburg Sharpsburg Runs Fastest Six Furlongs of Meet Nose Victory in 1 :1 1 Vs Gives Leonard Double and Deprives Howard Grant of Fourth Win By WILLIAM C. PHILLIPS GARDEN STATE PARK, Camden, N. J., May 7. — Victory Stables Sonny Dan amazed a crowd of 17,208 here this afternoon by outfinishing» Fairlawn Farms Sharpsburg in the and-furlong New Jersey Chiefs Purse after the latter had reached the front in the final sixteenth. Sonny Dan, who has been somewhat of a "giant killer" in former seasons here in New Jersey, ran 6 furlongs in 1:11%* as the fastest time of the meeting and "hung it on" Sharpsburg by a slim nose. Jack Leonard completed a double for the day with the victory, while Howard Grant just missed making it a quartet astride Sharpsburg. P. and W. Stables Lucky George finished three-quarters of a length behind and between the leaders and C. Mahlon« Klines jfe Vegeo was fourth. Prep For Camden Cap . Sonny Dan was able to win only one race in nine starts in Florida last winter and the five-year-old altered son of Haw-ley — Luk OSullivan returned his scattered admirers a 2.00 mutuel. Both Sharpsburg and Boncrist Farms Backbone are prepping for the 0,000 added Camden Handicap, to be renewed here at nine furlongs on May 23. Backbone was steered to the outside early by Walter Blum. He was carried very wide when the leaders fanned on the stretch turn and he finished fifth, beaten a little less than four ~~ lengths s Backbone and the winner carried 118 pounds, while Sharpsburg shouldered 124. Grant rode him out after the finish and the six-year-old Alibhai horse worked out a mile in 1:43%. The pace was fashioned by Lucky George, fresh from a New England campaign, with Vegeo racing closest, followed by Sonny Dan on the outside and then Backbone. Sharpsburg was next in line and he had all the advantage when Lucky George veered extremely wide into the stretch, leaving room for a stampede to come through next to the rail. Sharpsburg took advantage of the opportunity to wrest command from Lucky George in the final furlong, and appeared almost a half length in front entering the last sixteenth. Sonny Dan overcame his loss of ground under a vigorous awakening by Leonard and determinedly, wore down Sharpsburg while finishing near the middle of the track. William M. Ingrams Scotland remained a Preakness "possibility" when he won the 6-furlong Grolier Society Purse here this afternoon, besting Brookfield Farms Inescapable a half length at the wire. The latter tired after holding a commanding lead into the final furlong and he was second by two lengths over Harold G. Ben-sings Jennies Joy. Sammy Boulmetis rode the roan son of Princequillo and time for the race was 1:12%. The winner was one of three receiving almost equal support from the public and he paid .60. The other choices were Inescapable and Reginald N. Websters Royal Anthem, who also are Preakness nominees. Whatever slim chance they had of competing in the second of the Triple Crown events appeared to be dashed today. Only six competed and Royal Anthem finished next to last. Kenny Noe Sr., who trains Scotland, said prior to the event that there was a chance the colt might be considered for the Preakness "if he happens to run a big race." His performance was more useful than "big" and, unless Noe changes his plans, Scotland will be reserved for the Jersey Stakes here on May 30, and perhaps for the Belmont Stakes later on. Scotland was under intermittent pressure from the beginning todays race, his first since finishing third in the Blue Grass at Keeneland, and he gradually improved his position while racing on the outside. Boulmetis had to cease pumping slightly when the colt tended to drift in through the stretch, but "The Man" straightened him quickly and Scotland willingly put away the tiring Brookfield Farms colt in the final yards.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1950s/drf1959050801/drf1959050801_52_2
Local Identifier: drf1959050801_52_2
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800