New-York tribune., 1916-07-18
FOUR FAvORITES
TRIUMPH DESPITE
RAIN AND MIST
Only Gnat and Bayberry
Candle Fail in Tasks
Set Before Them.
BY +. ID. BURROWS.

Despite the fact that a misting rain
fell at Empire City racetrack, prac-
ticslly all of yesterday afternoon.
those thoroughbreds whose owners
elected TO brave the elements and try
conclusions on the pretty Yonkers
saucer ran very close TO true racing
form and afforded no small amount of
excitement for the 5000 or more
horse lovers who were on hand for
the sport.
Four favorites out of six rewarded
their admirers by tearing home ahead
of their competitors in the various
events, only James Buffers filly, Gnat.
and J. W. Mays sterling mare, Bay
berry Candle, failing in the tasks set
before them.
Port Light, John W. Schorr's geld
ing, defeated Gnat fairly and square
ly in the third race of the afternoon:
but Fenmouse. which took the measure
of Bayberry Candle in the Woodlawn
Handicap, profited by more or less
slovenly ride on the part of Johnny
LOTUS, who piloted the May entry.
Lead Slips Away.
LOTUS, after taking his mount out
to a three-length lead over the other
two horses in the race, apparently per
mitted the trailing pair to come up
with him, meantime setting the pace
for both of them. Again, coming
into the stretch, LOTUS carried Bay
berry Candle wide, permitting John
ny McTaggart, on Fenmouse, to scoot
through on the rail and make up
worlds of ground.
At that the daughter of Rock Sand
and Flittermouse barely won from the
daughter of Cunard and Tower OF
Candles, a scant inch or so of the
formers nose showing in advance of
her rivals distended proboscis as they
flashed over the finish line together
Pleione, the other entrant, ran a
greatly improved race and finished
only a length and half behind the
leaders.
John W. Schorr. whose string of
Western whizzers has cut all sorts of
winning and challenging capers since
he cut them loose at Empire City on
Saturday last, uncorked another
sleeper" when he sent Port Light a
three-year-o old son of Hamburg and
Morningside, against Mr.. Buffers
pretty brown flly, Gnat, in the third.
This was another three horse contest,
J. W. Goldblatt's geldng, Sosius, being
the other entry.
Port Light, with Mink up, was of
like a fash the instant the barrier was
sprung with Gnat at his heels and
Sosius dropping away as though he had
fallen from a balloon. Shilling, on the
Butler horse. evidently relied too much
on the ability of the Voter tilly to PICK
up Port Light in the stretch. Either
that. or he got on the starboard side
of the Schorr.
Two Lengths in Van.
At all events, when the time came TO
pick up the left-side beacon there
warnt no such animal there, the West
ern gelding having whistled across the
winning line some two lengths before.
Sosius finished in the ruck, being out
classed by the other two. .,
An even dozen two-year-olds answered
the call for the first race, five and
half furlong scamper, for $500 sweep.
Gertrude Marie, likely looking daugh..
ter of McGee and Polly Grant, owned
by the Brighton Stable, was easily the
best of her company, winning by pair
Of lengths from Ralph D. Earle's ca
PRECIOUS and irresponsible FLY. Run.
ming Shot, which showed world OF
speed right at the end. Lantana,. an
other promising youngster. owned by
Mrs. Godfrey Preece, was third.
August Belmont's good three-year-old
miller Malachite was 70 favorite
for the second event Of the day, IN
which four horses were entered. The
daughter of Rock Sand and Miss Han
over finally got home in front; but
Miss Puzzle, owned by James Butler,
gave the crowd the scare of its life by
leading all the way TO the last eighth
pole. firing Just in time TO let the Bel
mont filly win out by half length.
After Port Light and Fenmouse had
scored their victories over the two los
ing favorites Set Square, an imported
fliy. owned by the Kentucky Stable,
finally justified her trip across the big
drink by defeating nine other good
selling platers in scamper around the
circuit. Ball took the Simon Square
speeder out in front at the start, and
was never headed. Shilling, by giving
Golden Gate a hustling ride in the
stretch. eventually beat out Butwell,
on Andes. for the place.
Tom McTaggart, another Brighton
Stable two-year-old, captured the con-
cluding event of the day in decisive
style. stalling off the challenge Of Au-
gust Belmont's colt, Woodtrap, in gal
iant fashion and splashing mud in the
faces Of the rest Of the field. Wood
tran got up in time TO take the place
from Queen of the Water by scant
bead The others being from four TO