The San Francisco call., 1904-12-18
axes the Crocker
Selling Stake in
a Drive.
FILLY STAGGERS IN
Military Man Runs
Close Second, a
Nose Behind
BY FRED e. MULHoLLAND.

BY FRED L. MCLHOLLAND.
Before a large half holiday throng
and in a spectacular sort of a rough
and ready finish. one that sent the
cold shivers creeping over the back
ers of the Jennings stable and caused
the teeth to chatter and rattle like
dice in box, Letola earned a nose
decision yesterday at Oakland over
Military Man for the rich Crocker
selling stake, worth $2530 TO the win
ner.
Letola carried ninety-three pounds
and was ridden by Frank Sullivan,
while Helgesen piloted Garnet Fergu-
sons colt. The start was not one of
Dick Dryers happiest efforts, San
Nicholas getting caught in the bar
rier and being left altogether, but
there can be no doubt that the best
horse won. The winner had i'll luck
ar the start, too. and besides was
bumped by ByronerdaIe.
Betting on the race was fast and
furious on the nine starters, the Jen-
nings pair, Gold Money and Letola,
ruling favorites at s to 5. Ananias
and Military Man were the next most
fancied, with the long range shooters
plunging away at San Nicholas, Ell
liott and Romaine.
ANANIAS IN FRONT.
The start was made in front of the
stand and when Dick Dwyer released
the barrier Sam Greenfield. on Anan-
las, was first to show clear of the
field. For a quarter of a mile Bull
man had Romaine up second, trailed
by Military Man and Letola. Passing
the half mile pole Sullivan, astride
Letola, made a determined move,
passing Ananias and compelling the
latter to take the poorest going on
the rail- Letola hit the stretch with
a commanding lead and things looked
rosy for the hlly until Helgesen
crowded on all sail with Military
Man. He drew up alongside the filly
and the last few yards the pair in
dulged in a humping match, Letola
staggered in first by the narrowest
of margins in 1:401k. Had Greenfield
taken advantage of the start and wait
ed for nothing the Schorr colt might
have won. He rode to instructions
and finished third. Away badly, FL
lott finished fourth. Gold Money ran
a wretched race, displaying no speed
whatever.
Believers in curious figures and
hoodooes did not have a ghost of
chance of beating the card, as Flying
Torpedo and Head Dance, two of the
winners, were quoted at 13 to 1. Three
fayorites attached themselves to
purses. The betting ring presented an
animated appearance, being a veri-
table mass of people. The layers
could handle as much money as they
cared to reach out for.
HONITON A WINNER.
Honiton, the brown daughter of the
dead Ormonde, captured the six-fur-
long handicap from a shifty field,
carrying 116 pounds. 1t was no pick
up at that, for the mare, after racing
Iridius into subsection, was brought
TO a hard drive at the finish, only
beating the two-year-oId Squire John
son a neck, the time being 1913. The
winner opened an even money chance
in the ring, but Iridius received such
consistent support that her odds
heightened to to 5. Iridius weak
ened in the run home, taking show
honors.
A mile and fifty yard selling event,
which opened the afternoons sport
went to Scotsman. the II to 10 IA
vorite. Sam Greenfield had the leg up
and it was due to his good work that
the first choice succeeded in beating
Mocorito, less than a length. File
dor, pounds the best. was brought
ming a close third.
Charley HenshalPs two-year-old came
near accomplishing the task set before
him in the five and a half furlong
scramble. for all ages. The Albert colt
was installed favorite over Mansard,
TocoIaw,- Misty's Pride and that sort,
and ran unplaced- .Mansard, with
Helgesen on his back and A to 1, over
hauled Misty's Pride in. the. stretch, de-
feating the Oregon bred mare easily in
the fast time Of 1:061k. Davis finished
third with Tocolaw.
FLYING TORPEDO SCORES.
It looked as If everybody on the race
track had Little Walk "doped" to win
the mile and three-sixteenths selling
fixture. and at scant odds the Brink
worth entry was plunged on Old Fly.
ing Torpedo had one of his good spells,
and romping out in front all the way
passed the judges a neck before G. w.
Trahern, little Barrett almost tossing
the race away. The favorite ran third,
beaten two lengths.
At the distance. seven furlongs, Hool-
igan looked by far the best of the start
=. 49, o1oefnor evouf for two vear-
olds. He had first call in the betting,
but Lloyd Fountain broke 1t up so bad
~ there was never chance Tor his
hackers. In hard drive Kunz on Head
Dance downed Sea Air half length.
The winner ran practically unbacked. {,
Ara ran into the show.