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New York By Bob Horwood Veteran Tick Tock Model of Consistency Ran Fine Race to Win Toboggan Handicap Dunce Earns Chance for Preakness Try BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y„ May 12.— Howell E. Jacksons Tick Tock, a model of consistency, scored his second victory in as many starts this year when he staved off furious charges by Greentree Stables Co-hoes and Mrs. Mabel D. Scholtz Warhead to win yesterdays Toboggan Handicap by a half length. The six-year-old son of Double Jay — Up Early, by Sun Again, saved enough ground along the rail at the head of the stretch to open a wide lead, but paid the price of that short cut by going through the deep footing on the inside. It is difficult to quarrel with Bob Usserys maneuver, since it got the * job done and Tick Tock might not have been able to win had he gone around horses. Warhead, who found a path between the leaders, made a powerful move inside the furlong pole, but hung at the end and was headed in the final strides by Cohoes, who came around eight horses turning for home. It was another excellent handicap with the signature of Jim-, my Kilroe, as Tick Tock and Warhead each carried 122 pounds and Cohoes gave them three. If the race were to be run again, the chances are the same trio would be at the head end of the field, but the order between them might well be different. None of the unplaced horses in this Toboggan, the first on the main track, with the exception of the 1941 renewal, since 1927, had any apparent excuse, other than Nans Mink. That useful horse was all but left at the post. Yemen was also off slowly, along with Warhead. The speed horses, Bumpy Road, Kentucky Pride and Jimmer, all stopped badly and might have fared better on a sloppy track. All of the Belmont strip is deep, with the going along the rail deeper than that. Tick Tock, Cohoes and Warhead will probably meet again in the Carter Handicap on May 20 and are also expected to appear in the 00,000 Metro-, politan at one mile on Memorial Day. They may have to cope with Vertex in the latter event, which requires considerable coping. Hancock Finds Winning Stride Arthur B. Hancock Jr.s Dunce, who finished a half length behind Tomy Lee in the Blue Grass Stakes, but was a well-beaten sixth in the Kentucky Derby, made a show of his field in the Devil Diver Purse. After being apparently hopelessly out of contention for a half mile and racing wide after that, Dunce passed his rivals as though they were tied to the fence through the stretch, winning more easily than his three-length margin suggests. He is slated to go to the Preakness off of this race. Several hundred of the more knowledgable, and regular, of the grandstand and clubhouse patrons were mightily displeased by one innovation on opening day and made their anger heard with loud screams. The throng that gathers to see the horses parade in the walking ring was dismayed to see them saddled in the paddock and led directly to the track. This unpopular change in procedure was intended to cut the interval between races and to apply to all races except stakes and those with purses of 0,000 or more. It was announced over the public address system that the field for the fifth would appear in the ring. This change is "experimental" according to Marshall Cassidy. If the nine races can be run off fast enough, the ring will be used. If not, it wont. Owner Offers Winning Suggestion Though he has been racing for some 20 years, Sidney M. Barton won his first stakes last Saturday when Greek Star took the Suffolk Downs Turf Handicap. Trainer Charley Reynolds gives owner Barton full credit for the victory. "You know, I used to have an awful time getting the blinkers on Greek Star," the trainer says. "He was fat around the ears and they used to hurt him. So Mr. Barton suggested that I get a set of blinkers with big- holes cut around the ears, so they would slip on easily. We had those blinkers made, but we havent used them yet because Mr. Barton suggested that while we were waiting for them, we try Greek Star without any blinkers at all. And do you know hes a different horse without them?" Mrs. Mabel D. Scholtz Warhead is another horse who improved sharply when blinkers were discarded. Incidentally, trainer Kay Jensen says that the son of Battle Morn again "choked up" in his bad race at Jamaica. "He has a throat condition," the Dane says, "but it seems to be a matter of nerves. If he gets excited in the gate, he starts to choke up and when he starts to choke it frightens him and he gets worse. It seems that if he has an inside post, he has time to settle and get over his nerves, while if he has an outside post he doesnt have time to be upset. But if hes in between, or next to a horse who acts up, he often has trouble."
