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Barroco Nips Double Bid And Motor Line in Thriller Nose and Neck Separate Three Speedsters in Suffolk Feature By FRED GALIANI SUFFOLK DOWNS, East Boston, Mass., May 11. — In a tight and as exciting a finish as seen all meeting, three horses slashed down to the wire in the featured Winchester Purse, and only after long deliberation did Phil Utmans Barroco get the nose nod over Bay Berry Farms Double Bid. The latter threw his. nose into the picture with a last-minute lunge that had him called the winner by many. Another neck back in third place was Mclver Pricketts Motor Line. The decision was greeted with some sustained booing by many in the crowd of 11,126. Barroco returned .80 under the guidance of jockey Allen Fairbanks, the former New Jersey bronc buster. They covered the 1 1-16 miles over a fast track in 1:45%. Fairbanks last desperate urging foiled a triple for Norman Mercier, who was astride Double Bid. The weather turned warm for the first time at the meeting, and a bright sun was in evidence all day. The winner, a four-year-old bay son of Devil Diver — Traditional, was recently purchased by Utman privately and was winning his first face for his new owner, after twice finishing in the money for him. Fairbanks and Barroco were teamed up for the first time since September, but earlier last year they had rung up three straight victories as the colt developed into one of the better allowance performers on the circuit. The Winchester was the first victory of the year for Barroco in four starts and maybe Fairbanks made the difference. Double Bid, who always runs his best races on the front end, had what looked like a good thing in the feature. He went out to a clear lead under Mercier, with Plain Ben and Motor Line after him, while Barroco was well reserved off the pace. Double Bid led all through the back stretch run, with little change in the running positions. But on the turn, Motor Line, under the whip by Snyder moved past Plain Ben into second place. At the same time Barroco had worked his way up to fourth and was driving strongly. Double Bid ■still clung to his lead, while Motor Line dropped on the rail to make his charge. Barroco moved on the outside. The margin narrowed with every stride to the wire and 70 yards from home it was anybodys race. Barroco and Motor Line had Double Bid sandwiched, but .just as they went under the finish line, Mercier called on some last ditch reserve from Double Bid and he came with a final burst.
