New-York tribune., 1918-07-04
inishes Stronger Than
Victor, but Loses Through
Bearing Out Badly
By w. !. Macbeth

By w. J. Macbeth
Trompe la Mort, J. E. Wideners I'M
ported chestnut three-year-old French
colt, which won the rich Metropolitan
Handicap at Belmont Park some weeks
ago. came back into his own at Aque
duct yesterday afternoon. The son of
Verwood, cleverly ridden by Jockey F.
Robinson, won the feature Oakhill
Handicap, at a mile and a sixteenth.
from field of stake performers Of
average ability at least. Trompe la
Mort not only won impressively, but
stepped the distance within two-fifths
second of the track record to gain the
brackets.
In order to win yesterdays classic
Trompe la Mort had to take the meas
ure of Hendrie, one of the supposedly
best things of the afternoon. Hendrie
was favorite, of course; Trompe la
Mort second choice, for the Wideher
stake horse, after his striking victory
in the Metropolitan, became i'll and did
not again go to the races until last
Saturday: when he started in the
Trompe la Mort finished absolutely
last. He got off none too we'll in his
preparatory race for yesterdays
achievement.
in yesterdays field of half dozen
Trompe la Mort was easily best.
Moreover, Robinson showed excellent
Judgment with his winning mount. The
could be imagined. George Walls, on
the lightly weighted Elmendorf, crowded
quickly to the front with the barrier
rise. hard pressed by Bantry. 1t was
Il killing pace, and Robinson very wisely
lay off while the pair raced themselves
into the ground. Around the turn
Elmendorf and Bantrv, running like a
team, had drawn three good lengths
ahead of Trompe la Mort. Willie
Knapp was waiting, also, with Hendrie,
the favorite.
Favorite Threatens Seriously
Neither Robinson or Knapp began 3
real bid until the start of the final
quarter. Under Robinson's command
Trompe La Mort then came on fast. 1t
took him little time to race first Ban
try, then Elmendorf into submission.
But Knapp was coming fast with Hen
drie. A furlong from home it looked
as if the favorite surely would win
Hendrie had almost collared Trompe
La Mort under Knapp's lash, when all
at once the favorte bore out badly.
probably cost Knapp the race, for Hen
drie, Strengthened once more, closed
resolutely and much stronger than
Trompe La Mort He probably would
have won in another fifty yards.
Starter Mars Cassidy, whom every
one had thought might have finally re-
formed, was again guilty of atroclty
which, if continued, cannot fail to put
the big paddock on the front gates of
rho
was disgraced by one of the most un-
fair starts ever seen anywhere. As
sumo, an outsider, was sent away wing
ing. while Gex. the favorite, and Cue
land, the second choice, were left flat
footed. They were as good as left at
the post, apparently through no fault
of the riders 1t was next to folly for
Walls and Troise, who had the re-
spective mounts, to attempt to overtake
the field, but try they did, and so sue
cessfully that Gueland finished good
second and Gex got third money. In
the first race Cassidy eliminated prac-
tically half the field at the start.
a. B. Dade Free Soon
1t is most distressing thing for
any critic to be forced to find fault
continually with any official. In time
it begins to look like spite persccu-
ton. But certainly the public is en-
titled to protection. No one questions
the honesty of Mars Cassidy or doubts
his integrity. Perhaps he has gone
stale under the strain Of handling such
particularly heavy and obstreperous
fields as Eastern racing has developed
this year. If so, for his own reputa-
tion it is only fair that he should be
given a rest from the strain. A. B.
Dade, the master hand of present day
starters, according to the opinion of
those who follow the throughbreds
throughout the entire season, will soon
be at liberty. Why not see what he
can do under metropolitan conditions? :?
The steplechase developed one of the
most exciting finishes of the season.
The layers, in their usual spirit of
generosity, gave themselves none the
worse of it when Cocktail and Square
Dealer. the Green Tree Stable entry,
and Nutmeg were made equal favorites.
Evidently the stable instructions were
for Cocktail to go out and kill off the
field. Heating laid back with Square
Dealer till the very last quarter mile
Nutmeg, Cocktail and Dramaturge
meanwhile had raced their heads off.
At the final jump it was seen that
Nutmeg was fast tiring. Dramaturge
cleared this fence a good half length
showing evident signs of distress.
Heating Saves the Day
1t was then that Heating on Square
Dealer, came from away behind to save
the day for the Green Tree Stable.
From the last jump from the turn into
the track proper Square Dealer had
made up a dozen lengths. He finally
hooked up with Dramaturge one hun
dred yards from .the wire and under a
Furnishing ride on the part of Heating
Just managed to stick his nose in
front of the last stride
One of Lyke's very best rides enabled
George W. Lofts Cum Sab, which ran
with true thoroughbred gameness
despite a case of aggravated corns, to
win the third race, at mile. Cum
Sab waited behind Frederick the Great
to the last furlong, then went out in
front, but had to be ridden to the last
ounce to beat Regal Lodge. The lat
ter should have won but for Tanlin's