The San Francisco call., 1904-12-15
Pretty and Exciting Finish
for Handicap at Track
Across the Bay.
CHOICES OUT OF LUCK
Red Cross Nurse Is Heavily
Backed and Wins All
the Way.
BY FRED e. MULHoLLAND.

When Frank SINNERS three-year-old
Bombardier, ridden by Henry Michaels,
defeated Military Man, the 4 to ia
vorite a neck for the mile and seventy
yard handicap at Oakland yesterday,
it was a staggering blow for the talent.
For some reason the Ferguson colt
had been "doped" a cinch, the books
being bombarded with coin until by
degrees the price was forced down
from Z to 5.
The heavy going fitted Bombardier
like glove and Michaels took him out
in front. Part of the way Helgesen
was second with the favorite, then he
found some deep going on the far turn
and Little Wally took the second posi-
tion. Helgesen selected the best foot
ing in the run to the stand. while Bonn
bardier bore in to the rail where it
was heaviest Despite this handicap
the latter colt stood a fierce drive, win
ming by neck
Leila, badly handled, finished third,
beaten but a neck and half a length.
and should have won by herself. From
twos the odds about Bombardier SCARED
to 16 to 5.
FAVORITES IN HARD LUCK.
1t is unnecessary to state that the
favorites played in hard luck. Any
time the track is good and bad in
patches, upsets may be expected. DIR.
Sherman had the honor of being the
only successful public choice.
Bronze Wing started for the first
time in the colors of Steve Judge and,
with Helgesen in the saddle, went to
the post to 10 favorite in the bet
ting on the opening event The first
choice cut out the running for nearly
seven-eighths of mile, when he was
passed by Big Rill' Knapp on Lady
Kent and was beaten somewhat hand
lily. Gin Spray, a 30 to 1 shot, finished
a fast closing third.
Carelessness on the part of his rider,
w. Davis, lost the .two-yea old scram-
bic for Golden Buck, the odds-on
choice. Johnny Schorr's colt had shak-
en- off Fay Ttempleton an dapparently
had the race in hand. Davis, however,
failed to observe Ara closing strongly
under Sam Greenfield's vigorous riding
and the decision went against him by
a head. Fay Templeton took the show.
DR.. Sherman came back after a
nights repose and grabbed the seven
furlong purse from Hipponax. The Doc
tor ruled an to 5 favorite, and in a
driving finish disposed of Hipponax by
stretch, and only for some interference
near the close might have won. Red
Damsel, away poorly, ran a good third
DECISION Is CLOSE.
So close was the finish between Bell
Reed and Alice Carey at the close OF
the Futurity course sprint, fifth to be
decided, that quite a gathering mani
tested their disapproval by hooting the
decision. There is no doubt that
Alice Carey was best and should have
won, but Alarie in the full exuberance
of his JOY at the thought of winning
two days in succession tossed the
money away. The judges probably did
not err in giving Bell Reed, the mount
of Sherwood, the verdict. Albemarle,
the favorite, ran a fair third. The win
ner's odds under a stiff play dropped
from 312 to 215 to l.
There are certain kinds of mud that
Red Cross Nurse can run in, it would
appear, and the right number was
struck yesterday. With Sam Greenfield
in the saddle, the mare galloped out in
front all the way in the final mile and
sixteenth number winning cleverly at
the wire from Isabellita and Major Ten
ny, the latter the favorite. The winner
received extensive support at odds. of
s to l.