Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-27
ANIMUS GALLOPS
AT LONG PRICE
EASILY WINS FROM MALTBIE,
THE FAV0RITE
CONSISTENT HoRsEoVERLooKED
BY, ,sPEcULAToRs
Steps Mile in 1897 3-5 and Wins Going
Away, While Sensational Racer
Does New Stunt at Quit
ting in Stretch
BY JAY DAVIDSON

Horses of improved class ran in the
principal events yesterday at Santa
Anita and some fast time was hung
out by the official timers. There was
no especial feature event on the bill,
but bv unanimous consent the fifth race
got the prize. Animus, one of the most
consistent horses on the coast and al
ways popular faVorite, won from
Naltbie in no uncertain manner and
caused much rejoicing by the bunch
that always pulls for the favorite to
lose. Maltbie opened at a fair price,
but ton of money was unloaded in the
ring before the bookies had finished
making their opening states, and the
price dropped below par in q, hurry.
1t seemed that the result already was
lin" and everybody seemed blind as to
the chances of other horses in the race.
Animus was entirely overlooked by
the plungers, but when the horses start
ed for the post Johnny Powers and his
agents got busy and soon started the
erasers to working on the price quoted
against Animus. Tom Shaw and Jack
Atkin also smother the ring with
cash to bet on Animus, and when the
bell rang for the start they still were
betting it.
Rockstone broke first and went to
the front, but Maltbie soon caught him,
and they raced as a team to the back
stretch turn, when Maltbie went to the
front and opened up what seemed to
be winning gap. Animus was away
nicely and raced along in third place
until after turning for home. Rock
stone quit at the stretch turn and An
imus began to move up fast, although
seemingly too far back to win. Powers
rode a great race, and when the leaders
neared the paddock entrance it became
evident that Maltbie would have to get
busy or lose the race. Animus never
faltered for a second, while MCGEE,
on Maltbie, never began to ride until
Animus was right at his saddle girth
Then it was too late. Animus thun-
dered past Maltbie and won going
away by nearly two lengths, while Ed
win T. Fryer, making his usual belat-
ed rush, got the show money, five
lengths behind Maltbie.
Green Seal actually won a race-his
first this season-when he overlooked
his habit of quitting and stuck for the
entire journey of nine furlongs, winning
from Gowan by two lengths. Gowan
was held at ridiculous odds on sus-
piciOn, and nearly everybody wanted to
play Green Seal on the hunch that "this
is the day." In such cheap company,
him, Green Seal went to the front and
logged along in that position all the
way, under a strong ride and a stronger
finish by Powers. Red Gauntlet was
third because Big Bow has not rounded
to form and was In the race for a work.
out, and because Taby Tosa is of no
account.
Taxer failed w. T. Anderson again
when he fell short about three lengths
in the last race. Taxer has been sent
after the kale a couple of times this
season, but seems to have acquired
the stopping habit, and upon both oc-
casions he has quit when nearing the
wire in front. Illusion gathered the
grapes and old no-account Brancas
placed ahead Of Taxer.
Altar Boy won the opening race at
almost unheard-of odds, while Teo
Beach was second. Tendercrest, also a
juicy long shot, was third. The strange
feature Of the Altar Boy victory is the
fact that B. Wilson actually piloted a
winner, this youngster usually being a
greater handicap to a horse than 9TH
erWiSe.