The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-04
NATURALIST WINS
OCTOBER HANDICAP
Erratic Gelding Runs Straight
and True and Beats Select
Field at Jamaica.

Naturalist. the fast but erratic brown
selding owned by Joseph e. widener,
ran straight and true yesterday after
noon in the October Handicap at ia
malca and led home n big field OF high
class handicap horses in sensational
style. John Sanfords big black horse
George Smith. which was an added
starter. finished second. with A. X. Ma
con,ber's Star Master third.
The race was at one mile and n six
tenth and in quest Of the $500 purse
seven noted horses went forth 10 do
battle. Because OF his easy victory at
Aoueduct last Saturday, George Smith
was made the favorite and was heavily
backed at 10 to 10. All the other con-
testants had many supporters. with the
result that It was real open race.
When It came to racing the result was
never in doubt. As soon as the barrier
went up 1t could be seen that Naturalist
would run kindly. With Fairbrother in
the saddle. he sped to the front during
the first sixteenth OF mile and went
along Swimming the rail instead of bolt
ing TO the outside as has been his GUS
ton, in his recent races and trials. He
was full OF running arl did everything
mis- Jockey asked him to do.
George smith Carried Wide.
After gaining a lead OF a length he
settled down to nice, even pace and
led his field down the backstretch.
Rounding the bend George Smith, which
broke badly and was carried wide while
making the first turn, challenged He
displayed n tremendous burst Of speed
and In less than a furlong moved UP
from last place to third position behind
Naturalist and Harry Payne Whi.ney's
Borrow.
Entering the homestrctch Borrow quit
and Mr.. Sanford's Kentucky Derby win
ner sped into second place and within
length of the leader. But that was
as near to the front as he could get.
Naturalist had plenty OF speed in reserve
and stepped along In front under an
easy hand ride until he passed the judges
the victor by length.
An eighth Of a mile from home Star
Master and Corn Tassel came with a
rush, but George Smith. which carried
he heavy impost OF 1913 pounds, hung
on gamely and took place honors nose
in front OF Star Master. Corn Tassel
Macombers colt.
Liberty bond for whIppoorwilI.
The Liberty Bond purse was won by
Richard T. Wilson Jr.'s Whippoorwill.
This victory was big surprise to a
ma jority OF the racegoers. including Tom
Healey. his trainer. Mr.. Heaiey didn't
believe his charge would win and pre-
vented many OF his friends from wager
ing on him. George walls rode the colt
faultlessly, and when he saw Poacher
taltering q sixteenth of a mile from
home he roused Whippoorwill to new ef-
forts and hustled him home the victor
by a length.
After several disappointments War
Spirit, n brown two-year-old son OF
Vulcain and Thirty-third. owned by A.
X Macomber, graduated from the maiden
ranks in the sixth race. He displayed
tremendous burst of speed ard lasted
long enough to win on the post by a
head from w. r. Goes over There.
Early in the season Walter B. Jen-
nings believed he had champion in
War Spirit. but every time he sent him
20 the post the colt refused to break
with his opponents and always was
beaten off. Yesterday Johnny LOTUS
got him away from the barrier with his
field and quickly shot him to the front.
Once in command War Spirit sped along
at terrific pace. At the final eighth
pole he began to tire and only Wig
orous finish by LOTUS saved him from
defeat over There came with rush
in the run through the stretch. but failed
10 earn the verdict by the narrowest OF
margins