New-York tribune., 1908-05-22
CHOICES WIN In MUD
ROBERT COOPER BEATEN.
Golden Pearl Takes His Measure
IN POcanticO Stakes.

Jack Joyner scratched his good three-year-old
Hessian on account of the heavy. sticky track. but
added Golden Pearl to the Pocanico Stakes at Bel
mont Park yesterday, and his second string proved
quite good enough to win from Robert Cooper ana
Wild Refrain the only other starters From time
standpoint 1t the poorest race OF the season.
even considering the condition of the track. and 1t
begins to look as II Golden Pearl was not 50 good
a horse as was indicated in his two races at ia
maica
Robert Cooper the favorite. at odds on. as
he had run second to Question Mark in the Bay
chester Stakes. beating Golden Pearl four lengths,
but the last named did lack for followers yes
terday and was backed from to 5'to to by
many close students OF racing, who figured that
the six pounds in Golden PEARLS favor over his
last meeting with Robert Cooper might make 1t
possible him to turn the tables. more particu-
larIy as Question Mark had raced the Golden Gar
ter colt into submission in the previous before
Robert Cooper challenged
The reasoning proved correct, as Golden Pearl
forced the pace after being rather sluggish in the
first sixteenth. and lasted long enough. under
pressure, to beat Robert Cooper three parts of a
length. The latter under the whip from the
head Of the stretch and game and true. but
could not wear the winner down. Golden Pearl
was quite ready to stop through the last sixteenth
so that Musgreve, contrary to his usual CUSTOM
drew his whip. to which the colt responded The
time was 1852 35. full three seconds slower than
Tom DoIans time for the same distance In the last
event.
The fields were small and badly balanced. with
exception and four favorites raced to victory.
The sun came out bright and warm about o'clock,
but the track was sticky and holding and In even
condition than Wednesday, In spite OF
the poor card and the promise Of rain good sized
crowd was in attendance
Paul J. Rainey's Sanctus won the steeplechase
and qualified for the Grand National which will be
run week from tomorrow. He made all the
! running and won cleverly enough from Yama
Christy. another Grand National eligible Sanctus
was coupled with his stable companion. St Kelvin.
and the entry ruled favorite at to 3. Those who
accepted the short price had little for worry
during the race, although Mark Gumberts looked
rather dangerous for mile and half. The latter
tired however coming to the last jump, and Yama
Chrsty, coming from behind. chased Sanctus home
st. Kevin jumped fairly we'll and always close
to the pace and finally outgamed Mark Gumberts
for third money.
Lawrence P Daley. good two-year-old last
year made his second appearance of the season in
the first and showed enough Improvement to
win easily from Masquerade and Red River He
looked rather dull in and has not grown much
over winter, so it would not be surprising If he
failed to live up TO the promise of his two-yearod
form, in spite of his victory yesterday.
James R. Keene's Selectman also showed i'm
provement over his first start, and graduated
from the maiden class in the second He out
broke and outran his field from the start. and
easily enough, dthOugn NOtter kept MIN up 10 MS
work until well inside the last sixteenth pole.
Statesman. which closed about equal favorite with
seectman in the betting might have given the
Voter colt better If he had not been knocked
out of his stride by Home Run the barrier went
up. which cost him two or three lengths.
John Z. Madden's highly tried Lady Hubbard
which so heavily played to win the Fashion
Stakes last Saturday, ran a dismal race in the
third event, for which the condition of the track
may have been responsible She foundered around
badly and never prominent Font Of
Hastings made a show Of his field. and easily
from The Pippin, which attracted strong follow
ing.
L. Dugan and Guy Burns were not In the saddle
Yesterday and ii turned out that both had been
set down for three days by the starter for dis
obedience at the post Wednesday. This will
cost both boys mount In the rich Withers Stakes
Tomorrow is about the fifth time this year that
Burns has earned the displeasure of the starter,
and 1t begins to look if he should take the les
sons to heart. Mccarthy has signed contract to
ride for Herman B. Duryea-
Jack Atkin and Roseben are named probable
starters in the CIaremont Handicap to-day and II
both go to the post there will be no need of spe
cial sweepstakes to bring them together.