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i j Equibit Finishes Fast on Outside To Annex Pimlico Nursery Stakes Odds-On Brandy Punch Is t Beaten Almost Length and Takes Place by Only Nose PIMLICO, Baltimore, Md., May 8.— The thirty-ninth | running of the Pimlico Nursery h Stakes provided a stunning upset here today 1 with Ella K. Brysons doughty little bay colt, Equibit, racing five furlongs in the creditable c time of 1:01% to defeat four f formidable juvenile rivals, including Cedar 1 Farms odds-on favorite, Brandy Punch. Charging relentlessly on the outside under c the energetic handling of Nick Jemas, 1 Equibit was first under the wire by three-quarters of a length, with Brandy Punch i failing to reveal his usual early speed, just i managing to save second honors by a scant nose i over H. A. Perkins Realtor. The latter J was the real surprise of the race, setting a 1 brisk pace until Equibit pegged him just t beyond the 70-yard pole. With his arch nemesis, Saggy, remaining on the sidelines, Brandy Punch was backed c confidently by the estimated throng of 1 16,000, but the game little colt was unable • to cope successfully with Realtor and Equibit 1 in the early stages, then tired in the 1 final drive. Equibit, racing vastly improved over his races behind Saggy and Brandy 1 Punch in the Aberdeen and Ral Parr Stakes, ] paid 5. Jet Pilot Winner Last Year Last years Nursery renewal was won by 1 Maine Chance Farms Jet Pilot, last weeks J Derby w.nner and who heads the field awaiting the bugle call for Saturdays I Preakness. A bay son of Equator — Long Bit, Equibit earned ,095 by virtue of his surprising Nursery victory, and now has won two : races in eight starts. The colt carried 119 | pounds today and the manner in which he ] handled that steadying burden suggests he : may develop into a formidable member of the juvenile division. The start of the Nursery was effected without delay, and Realtor, who was making his first start, immediately swept into the lead, followed by Frenchtown and Equibit. Hugging the rail, Realtor drew into a length and a half advantage approaching the quarter pole, with French-town in closest pursuit. Shortly after entering the stretch Brandy Punch began to charge, and the favorite moved up briskly to be only a head off the leader at the furlong pole. Going strongly in mid-stretch, it appeared Brandy Punch would come on to win, but Equibit, racing in full stride on the extreme outside, gradually engaged the leaders, then drew out in the last few strides to register a well-deserved triumph. Spurette, who raced in last place from beginning to end, completed the field. Commanding much attention from Maryland breeders was the appropriately-named Back Again Purse, for two-year-olds foaled in Maryland who had participated in the yearling., show held at Pimlico last spring. The race provided a spirited contest, with Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilts brown filly, Aviation, who was judged best of the filly class in the 1946 show, capturing the four-and-one-half-furlong sprint in the creditable time of :55%. A length behind the winner at the finish was Mrs. E. duPont Weirs Christmastide, who was an additional head before Christiana Stables Mark Up. The latter, a recently altered bay son of Briarlet — Stop Lass, was voted grand champion of the 1946 yearling show.
