view raw text
Spare the Rod Registers First Triumph of Season Vanderbilt Cast-Off Drives Hard To Beat Bills Sister at Suffolk BOSTON, Mass., June 24.— Spare the Rod, an A. G. Vanderbilt cast-off that now races for the partnership of Mrs. F. Preece and A. G. Pierce, accounted for the best race on an all-claiming program at Suffolk Downs this afternoon. This was in the three-quarter mile fifth race, carrying a purse of ,275. The gelded son of Aethelstan II. was achieving his first triumph of the year. It permitted the Cuban apprentice, Marco Pena, to tie the riding score of apprentice Bernie Nash, having previously piloted Top Transit in the second race. Spare the Rod triumphed by one length over Bills Sister, from the stable of Mrs. H. O. Simmons. Millen and Haymakers Ack-Ack was an offending choice when the Jacopo four-year-old was unable to finish any better than third in the company of nine. Spare the Rod was first to show in front, but it was only a couple of strides before the Simmons mare had taken the lead, opening up an advantage of better than a length in the initial quarter mile. Pena had the ultimate winner back in second place and under snug reserve. Ack-Ack raced before the others and it was this trio that was destined to cut out the running for the entire trip. Voucher, coupled with My Elsie, drew some support, but the Charring Cross gelding suffered some interference nearing the far turn, forcing Tammaro to take up sharply. After suffering this mishap, Voucher failed to enter into serious contention. Into the stretch it was still Bills Sister that showed the way. Pena waited with Spare the Rod until straightening out in the stretch before making his effort. He readily moved to the leader and met little opposition in his bid for the lead, coming out to be clear at the line.
