New-York tribune., 1905-08-10
BATTLEAXE SMITES FIELD
WINS GRAND UNION.
III. p. Whitney Takes DoTn $4,000
Stake 7cith Hamburg Colt.
fsr TELEGRAPH TO THE rrIBuxEl

Saratoga " Y Aug 9-The colors OF the
Whitney stable which were carried TO victory
by King Hanover in the initial running of the
Grand Union Hotel Stakes, were brought home
first to-day in the fifth running of the stake by
Battle Axe. a colt which many critics consider
the best OF the present crop of Hamburgs OPP
posed TO him We're seven youngsters. which in
the present dearth of good two-year- olds. must
he considered as relatively first class.
AS has been the case in almost every two
yesr-old stake run this year, the top weights
failed to carry the imposts. youngsters of real
stake calibre should. and were beaten off. In
this particular instance. the failures were F. r.
Hitchcock's Vendor and Captain s. S. Browns
Accountant.
Both had acquired penalties which brought
the imposts up to 127 pounds. and both appar-
emily were outclassed. Neither had any other
legitimate excuse. Vendor ridden by Tommy
Burns and Accountant by Jack Martin. both
conceded to be the best riders of o-year-olds
on the Eastern turf
BATHS Axe was in receipt of ten pounds. scale
weight. and with this difference in the imposts
was by far the best horse in the race In addi-
ton TO Battle Axe. Mr. Whitney started another
Hamburg, the bay colt Midas. The latter made
most Of the pace, and through the backstretch
and around the turns showed plenty Of speed.
The others were done to such turn that Red
fern on Battle Axe had little trouble in coming
on and winning from Sandy D. by a comfortable
margin.
The latter colt ran through his field, and while
MS performance seemed excellent one, there
Is question whether II was not bit exagger-
ated by the fact that the rest of the field was
coming back TO him at every jump.
Jerry Weinberg. the Watercress colt which
mas always shown just enough tantalizing speed
TO warrant the public playing him. was an in
oIHereht third and with no apologies to explain
away his performance. ONeiI placed him nicely
ana until the last eighth pole was reached had
MIN within striking distance Of the leaders
The race went a long way toward dispeIling
the theory that Jerry Weinberg wants longer
distance of ground. With nothing TO interfere
WIN MN. he gave way to Sandy d. which he
lengths by him.
The Whitney stable always ruled first choice
10 me petting and closed at s TO B. The players
had little time for the top weights and generous
prices We're quoted against them.
An outsider that was supposed 10 have chance
because OF a fast trial was Ben Holder Unless
he improves tremendously over his performance
to-day il would seem that he had littlc business
IN such company He ran well enough for five
furlongs, but stopped there as though he did not
care enough about arguing the case out.
AS is the case when steeplechase is on the
programme the attendance to-day was materi-
ally increased, and so far as the clubhouse nat
ronage was concerned doubly so by the fact
mat the riders were all amateurs. The race was
a handicap over the short course and brought
out hVe representa- tives from the crosscountry
division.
Mr. Harris. who hunts with Major wads-
ToFths hounds in the Genesee Valley had the
leg up on Jim Newman the favorite and hrouebt
the OLD gelding first home after Daffo Down Dilly
ana Graceaway fell and Punctual had been
shouldered out Of the course by q loose horse
Jim Newman is not an easy horse TO ride and
many thought that he would attempt TO run
out With Mr.. Harris. This fact, coupled with
@ me olazing TIP that spread from paddock TO field
on Dsho Down Dilly. helped 10 buoy the price
against him. so that TO 3 was TO be had in
most books "
AT the last turn Jim Newman did try to go
out but he found Mr.. Harris as difficult to builI,