Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-29
CROWD HAS
BETTER OF
BLOCK MEN
WINNERS ARE WELL PLAYED
AT SANTA ANITA
sCHiLLING'S RIDE ON EoNITE is
WEIRD
smirker Justifies One to Two Support
and Scores Easy Vctory-onIy
One Outsider Dumps
Talent
BY J. G. GRIFFIN


the season is nearly here and the
horses entered are supposed TO
have small pretensions to class, one of
the largest crowds of recent weeks
turned out at Santa Anita yesterday
and toyed with the odds. A nice card
of seven races was given them to spec
ulate with and the books did not lay up
much in the afternoon. Three favor
ties won and three other winners were
het on heavily. The one outsider Mas
ter Lester, was played at 10 and 20 to
by numerous pikers.
The I itrus Belt handicap was billed
as feature event and five shifty sprint
ers went out to face the issue. With
Col. Bob scratched, Dominus Arvi was
made favorite at to 5, Pretension COM
ing next in fancy and being played
from above rs to to s. Botanist was
third choice, with Hidden Hand and
Critic out of it few points
At the post Pretension acted like a
wild horse and the charge caused him
to bolt with Musgrave several times.
He unseated the boy by running into
fence once. but finally was induced to
line up and get away with the others.
For a furlong it looked as though
the busy period before the race had
served as a warm-up for Pretension.
The big Orif,dmb gelding led Dominus
Arvi and Botanst until the far bend,
and turning for home he and Dominus
mara rt1nnipo xvaIJ tooafbar In Aerce.
drive Dominus Arvi proved too good,
however, and got up on the outside to
score a victory. Botanist was an easy
third.
5arbette Wins Opener
Jane Swift was an odds-on favorite
for the opening number, but the wise
ones played Barbette and knocked her
price down below to l. With Pres
ton aboard she got away winging and
was never in danger, winning from
Jane Swift by a length. Jane was slug
gish in the early stages, but ran we'll
after she came out of her trance. Aqul-
line gathered the little grapes.
The second rc.ce looked bad, so far as
Jockey Schiling was concerned. Eon-
ite, on which he had the mount stuck
close to the pace furnished by Car
dinal, and after shaking the latter off
appeared an easy winner an eighth out.
When opposite the paddock Schilling
let Eonite's head drop and the gelding
swerveo into the fence. Aristotle and
Barney Oldfield came up on the out
side and in a fierce drive ran one-two
in the order named, Eonte finishing
third.
Smirker was a legitimate to shot
over the seven opposed to him in the
mile race and rewarded his hackers by
scoring clever victory over Montclair
and Thomas FLYER. Schilling kept
Smirker off the pace furnished by
Erawny Lad and Thomas Flyer in the
early stages of the mile trip but on
the far turn he moved up and entered
the stretch on almost even terms.
From here in 1t was a gallop for
Smirker, and he won hand ridden by
two lengths. Montclair proved better
than Thomas Flyer and placed
Despite a lot Of talk on Silverskin,
Merlingo was mad favorite for the
mile ana lHIee-SlXleeHlnS race, WHICH
came fifty on the program, and justi-
fed the confidence placed in him by
beating the gray bird handily. Right
from the start Archibald made his own
running, with Silverskin in close at
tendance, and after turning for home
the pair hooked up in a long drive.
Archibald had something in reserve
end after kidding Musgrave on Silver
skin into thinking he had a chance
drew away in the last few jumps and
won. County Clerk beat Nadzu, the
only other starter, for the remainder
of the money.
Good Thing Scores
Vesme was made favorite for the
sixth number, but the flood of coin
which CURED in on Ingham caused the
books 20 lose a barrel of money when
the recent Chinn acquisition romped
home Musgravo stole long lead with
. Ingham on the back stretch and at the
end was looking behind to see how
far away the field was. Vesme fin
ished fast, but had no chance to catch
Ingham. Teacress was in the other
hole.
The last race accounted for the upset
of the day, when Master Lester lasted
long CROUCH to win from Baron Esher,
with the favorite, Friar of Elgin, third.
The Friar, with Spohn, made he rum
ming. but stopped in the stretch and
Master Lester went on to what. APP
neared an easy victory. Baron Esher
closed ike a shot. however and would
have won in another jump, being
beaten but a scant nose for the big
end of the purse. Friar of Elgin
copped the rest.