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Spanish Dandy Surprises at Suffolk Leads Throughout In Sloppy Sprint Beattie Colt Holds Length Margin on Battle Chant at Finish; Postpone Is Third By FRED GALIANI SUFFOLK DOWNS, East Boston, Mass., May 12. — It started off extremely humid and sunny this afternoon, but just before the feature raca the skies which had turned cloudy, opened up in a torrential downpour. In a few minutes the track turned from fast to sloppy and W. J. Beatties Spanish Dandy didnt mind the change at all, splashing to a length victory in the Variety Club of New England Purse. His victory was far from anticipated and the infield gloom was brightened by the glow on the tote, which showed 3.60, 6.60 and 6.20 across the board. Norman Mercier had the surprise winner and pushed him to. a front-running victory in 1:14%. The crowd of 9,255 made B. A. Darios Verdi the favorite, but he could never enter the picture and finished fifth. In back of Spanish Dandy in second m place was Phil Schwartz Battle Chant, who was four lengths before S. M. Howards Postpone in the field of 11. Roman Image, who was prominent early, was just neck out of the money. * Grimm Pilots Four More Phil Grimms fourth score of the day came in the eighth race on P. J. Richards Ronald J. He rode three straight, starting with the third on Sea Venture, then taking the next two on Nile Melody and Whirl Dust. Nile Melody was a first time starter who made good for B. A. Dario. Spanish Dandy, a son of Castillian — Park Dandy, was bred by his owner in Rhode Island. He had been out twice previously this season, but was well beaten in both efforts. Last year he won two of 13. There was a jumble coming out of the gate as they all broke alertly, with Spanish Dandy finally getting a clear lead. First Hello Ace, then Roman Image took up the chase, but neither could dent the colts margin. Battle Chant entered the picture on the turn and Spanish Dandy now had Roman Image and Battle Chant to fend off. Ro-[ man Image dropped back at the head of the stretch, leaving Battle Chant to do the job. He couldnt. Though "he narrowed the margin in the final run, Spanish Dandy was still a length to the good at the wire. Postpone came from far back and finished along the rail to be third. r i l a 1 j ] . • - 1 1 . t .
