Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-01-09
WILLARD WINS
DOUBLE HEADER
BOTH HIS STARTERS FINISH
IN FRONT
BEMAY AND ED BALL ROMP IN
SUCCESSION
Big Fields and Exciting Finishes Fur
nished in Every Event Except
First = Form Generally Is
Observed in Results
BY JAY DAVIDSON

Big fields and formful racing featured
the sport yesterday afternoon at Santa
ANITA, despite that two long shots
romped home in front. The two vic
torlous good things were Ed Ball and
John Louis, and while it hardly can
be said that Ed Ball "doped" to be
a contender, yet the fact remains that
ne had not been tried out at this dis
lance this season. and as he did not
beat much his performance is not open
10 criticism, while John Louis actually
inquired pounds the best and the bookies
greatly OVERLAND him. The real feature
OF the sport was the close finishes in
all the races. only one winner having
as much margin as one full length at
the WIRE Never this season have fin
lShes been so eXcitingly close
Bemay won the opener for Pop Mil
lard with comparative ease under a
Jud1c1ous ride and good finish by Pow
ers. Runaway made the pace, but
never was good enough to successfully
dispute the issue with the winner after
Bemay began to run in the stretch.
Gossiper II showed because it was
such a poor field that she hardly could
help herself. 1t was a big field that
faced the barrier, but all horses got
away to good starts and the race was
truly run.
Ed Ball came along and made it two
straight for Willard by annexing the
capital prize in the second race after
making stretch run that was as SEN
satlonal as it was effective. He trailed
his field all the way to the turn for
home, and then Martin began to ride
With the old bird. He fairly flew
through the stretch and won going
away by half a length Smiley Metz
ner, which had showed great form in
previous out, placed ahead of the
fast closing Hazelthorpe, which loafed
too long to get more than the thin slice
of the purse. Redondo, of course, made
the pace, but could not last, while An
tigo was thoroughly outclassed after
the first quarter.
Enheld showed a rare turn of speed
and hung on long enough to win the
third race from Fair Annie after MAX
ing terrific pace all the way. Fair
Annie probably was best, but had bad
racing luck and Schilling did not put
up his usual strong finish. She came
from away back and closed stoutly,
seemingly to have the race won a six
teenth out when she was overhauling
Enfield at rapid rate. Enfield found
one unused sprint in him and used it
to get the 1925 prize that went to the
winner. Otilo showed while Maid of
little speed. Friend Harry, which had
not gone over this distance, was made
false faVOrite and quit badly after
running prominently to the stretch
Bob Smith finally won a long race
with Lord StanhOpe when his blaze
faced darling won the fourth race at
one and q quarter miles. There was a
margin of only a head, and a short
one at that, which separated Lord and
Oberon, long shot that had been
played almost into favoritism. Oberon
closed like a whirlwind and would
have won easily had a jockey instead
Of an imitation been in the saddle.
Alma Dufour ran her usual hard luck
race, getting away last and finishing
third after a hard journey.
La Gloria, one Of the most consistent
sprlnters in America, surprised even
her owners by her easy victory in the
fifth race. She was hardly expected to
beat such good bunch at the distance
and weights, but she hung on gamely
after making all the pace and had
nearly a length to spare at the wire.
Pal, the bear, finished second from
poor start and Fleming was third, run
ming to his best form. Lord Nelson
quit badly after chasing La Gloria into
the stretch and showed renewed evil
dence that he is on the order of a
hound
Despite figures, John Louis was made
a long shot in the last race, when he
should have been an odds-on favorite.
He fully justified the figures and eff
fectively disputed the odds by going
to the front at the half and making
runaway race of it, winning eased
up to nearly a length at the wire.
Niblick closed stoutly, but hardly Of
fered any contention, although getting
the place from Financier. Carthage
ran well to the stretch, but curled up
and probably needs more racing.