New-York tribune., 1918-09-05
Purchase Shows
Big Reversalin in
Belmont Race
Defeat of Lion dor and
Ophelia Causes Comment
-Coe Wins Mineola

Last week the racing critics had oc-
cas1on to call attention to the way the
-year-old colt Purchase was beaten
when unbacked and how he won when
the money supported him.
This criticism was upheld at Belmont
Park yesterday by the victory of Pur-
chase over Lion dor and Ophelia,
youngsters of sterling quality. Pur-
chase not only won. but won easily,
after racing in zig-zag fashion down
the stretch. His time for the five and
half furlongs was 1904 4-6, exceeding
ly fast time.
When Purchase won at Saratoga,
after being repeatedly beaten by poor
maidens. the excuse Was made that che
won because the track was muddy"
There was no mud at Belmont Park
yesterday to help Purchase. Instead,
the track was dry and fast. The lay
ers did not consider the nature of the
soil as being factor.
This victory at Saratoga confirmed
the views of the layers and the ma
jority of the handicappers Pur-
chase could win races if everything was
favorable. Imbued with this belief, the
layers yesterday opened him up the
favorite at even money despite the i'm
portant fact that he was meeting Lion
dor, colt that had forced Billy Kelly,
the champion, to put forth his best
effort to beat him.
Nor was this the only fast young
filly that compelled Pigeon Wing to
establish a track record for five fur
longs, was in the race. And yet, de-
spite the. presence of Lion dor and
Ophelia, Purchase opened up an even
money favorite.
Goes Entry Wins Mineola
1t scarcely pays to win selling race
these days, even though the event may
cal horsemen that they jump on q
winner and bid him or her, as the case
may be, over the selling price. This
was the case when Uncle's Lassie, rae
ing in the colors of w. R. Coe, won the
Mineola stakes worth 81 ,450 net She
was entered to be sold for $1,000 and
was bid up to $4,000 by Max Hirsch,
trainer of Congressman Lofts
racers. Uncle's Lassie was retained
for her owner by an additional SIS bid.
And thus s705 of her winnings was
lost to the stables credit.
1t must be related to the credit Of
Jockey McAtee that he rode a we'll
Judged race and this good handling en-
abled her to get home head in front.
McAtee has tossed away many a race
by bad riding, but this was a race
where his patience landed his mount
the winner. Lyke's hustling riding
of Aunt Dinah beat her. He never
seemed to give her a chance to draw
d long breath. He made her act as the
pacemaker at fast clip, while McAtee
into Aunt Dinah several times, which
also impaired the latter filly's chance.
Just when Aunt Dinah looked to be the
winner McAtee brought up Uncle s
Lassie with rush and won in the last
stride. Osgood, the favorte, ran far
below his form. 1t was his first race
in two months.
The talent was all at sea regarding
the first race, a six and q half furlong
dash for platers. The Decision opend
favorite. but Defence, a high class
horse two years ago, was backed so
heavily. that he supplanted The De-
cision in the position of first choice
The result proved that the first esti-
mate of the quality of the horses was
the correct one. The Decision had
speed to- give away. He dashed to the
front at the start, opened up big gap
increased his advantage as he pro
gressed and won. pulled up, by six
lengths. Lotus rode the winner, and
it marked this excellent Jockeys first
victory of the meeting. Defence chased
he threatened to catch The Decision
but his bad legs--he has been Grip
pie for nearly two years-began to pain
him and he just managed to beat out
I Poor Butterfly for the place honors.