The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-08
SHOT GUN FINISHES LAST


Yesterday was not the first time that
Miller has ridden at Oakland, but when
he was here before he did not enjoy
such a reputation as he now possesses,
although he was known as an espe-
eially good rider He rode a winner or
two at the local track last winter,
when he came up from Los Angeles for
the purpose of filling a couple of stake
engagements.
The winning of five favorites and a
second choice gave the bookmakers
another drubbing yesterday. and it is
probable that the number of books that
will cut in today will be further de-
creased as a result of the losses of
the past three days. The only dis
astrous feature of the day for the
talent was the ignominious defeat Of
w. B. Jennings crack Splinter Shot
Gun. The son of Artillery, after run
ming away from F,ireball and the other
speed burners in the early stages of
the Geraldine Handicap, quit like dog
in the stretch run and finished abso-
lutely last, to the surprise and disgust
of the talent, who considered Shot Gun
the best thing of the day and played
him with the utmost confidence at
odds-on. He was carrying 122 pounds,
but this should not have bothered him,
as he is noted weight packer. Some
were inclined to advance the theory
that he was allowed to set too fast
a clip in the early running but in
vestigation shows that he failed to run
either the first quarter or half as fast
as on Thanksgiving day in the mud,
when he finished a close second to the
Incompatible Cruzados. There were
five starters in the race in which Shot
Gun made such an inglorious showing.
Fireball. the winner was a receding
second choice. His owner, C.,-E. Dur
nell, had only a small complimentary
bet on him, as he did not think his
horse could down the favorite. All
the other horses in ,le race went way
back in the betting for lack of sup
port.
RIDES FIREBALL TO VICTORY
Starter Dwyer got the field off per-
fectly. Shot Gun and Fireball went to
the front At the half the Jennings
horse had established enough of a lead
to take the rail and cut Fireball off
Miller took his mount up with the idea
of saving him for the finish when he
saw that he could not outrun the Jen-
nings Splinter. AT the three-quarters
Shot Gun had increased his lead to
nearly three lengths, but the terrific
clip at which he was going evidently
had its effect, for he began to hack i'm
on turning into the stretch, to the dis
may of his hackers. Brusseu. who had
the mount, says that the horse seemed
to be only breezing when he suddenly
began to quit. The boy went to the
whip, but could not keep his mount
going, and every horse in the rare
passed him in the short distance from
the paddock gate to the wire When
Miller saw that Shot. Gun was stopping
he gave Fireball a good shaking m
and won In drive from the fast-com-
ing st. Francis by more than a Ienatb
II
closer up in the early running be
might have won the race. Romano
and Collector Jessup both closed very
strong, only half length behind ST.
Francis
Millers generalship won the fifth
race for Golden Rule He got the geld
ing away second to Titus and followe5,
the fast pace of that Splinter to the
stretch, where he flashed into the Iead
and won in handy fashion by more than
length in better time than the horse
had heretofore been running. Knapn
brought Clandestine up from behind
at the end with rush and took the
place from the firing Titus
sTANDoyER FIRST TO- WIRE
NStandover won the closing race of
THE day in impressive style L. viii
liams had the leg up, sent the geldine
to front right after the start land was
never menaced, winning easily by more
than two lengths from Joe Coyne.
which Brussell had in unavailing pur-
suit throughout. Celeres, Milleris
mount, curled up early and Baker beat
j. c. Glen out for the show.
In the opening race Silver Line, the
heavily played favorite, got away
flying, opened up'a big gap on her field
and won easing up: A. Brown was the
jockey. Jezebel. from the Jennings
II
and took the placein drive from Mrs.
Matthews after the latter had showed
considerable speed.
Graham gave Susie Christian a good
ride in the second and she won from
the good thing, -Cheripe, in a drive.
Cheripe would have won if she had had
clear sailing in the early part, but she
had the rnisfart1na To siIffar intarfa,.