The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-18
sun BRIAR VICTOR
, IN TRAVERS STAKES
Willis S. Kilmer's Imported
Colt Captures 3-Year-Old
Crown by q Head.
JOHREN FINISHES SECOND
specidi DespofcA to tn. suN.

one OF tho largest croWos that mas VIE
ted the famous race course here Willis
sharpe Kilmer's imported colt Sun Briar
sped 10 the top OF the three-year-old
championship ladder this afternoon. He
won that coveted place OF honor by de-
fsating Harry Payne whitney's Johren,
a. X. Macomber's War Cloud and his
own stable mate. Bxterminator, in the
valuable and historfo Travers Stakes.
As Sun Briar passed the Judges he was
a head In front OF Johren. which took
OF War Cloud. Extermlnator brought
up the rear six lengths behind Mr.. Ma
comber's great colt.
The Travers Is one OF the oldest
stakes On the American turf 1t Ia a
test for three-year-olds at ono mile and
a quarter. and since Its Inauguration In
1884 has brought together the best
thoroughbreds that ever looked through
a bride on this side OF the Atlantic.
II was frst won by Lexington, and
among It's other victors were such re-
nowned horses as Hindoo, Sir Dixon,
Henry OF Navarro, Hermis, Broomstick.
Rock View, Roamer and Omar Khay-
yam. Mighty as were these victors
none will live longer in turf history
than to-day's winner. More than $4,000
persons damned their way into the
huge grand stand and clubhouse and
stood scores deep along the rail. and
when Sun Briar poked his head home
in front II was the unanimous opinion
that he was the equal OF any colt that
ever won the historic event. Unlike
other years there was only one Amer
lean bred horse In the race. He was
Extermlnator. the gelding which won
tha Eartnrlxv narhv ~ he
Sun Briar's stable mate It was really
q three horse race among foreigners.
Knapp Rides FaultIessly.
The contest proved that Sun Brlar
was a great horse and that the veteran
Willie Knapp was n great Jockey. Sun
Briar won because of his speed and
courage, but with a less experienced
rider It is likely he would have been
conquered by Johren. Knapp did more
than ride faultlessly. He did something
seldom seen nowadays on the American
turf. He gave Sun Briar a breathing
spell in the middle OF the contest and
this enabled Mr.. Kilmers colt to re-
serve some OF his great speed and
stamina for tho final run through the
stretch. He outgeneralled Frankie Rob-
tnson on Johren. and when he returned
TO the scales was crowned king OF the
pilots in long distance racea
The start of the race was in front Of
the grand stand, and the crowd got q
thrill and gave q cheer when Mars Cas-
sdy sent the four famous championship
contenders away TO a perfect start. Elk
terninator, which was on the rail, was
the first to show in front. but befors the
first furlong had been covered Sun Briar
which had the outside position, had sped
TO the front He started around the
clubhouse bend two lengths ahead Of his
s4ble mate. which was followed closely
Johren and War Cloud. As soon as
We long backstretch was reached Knapp
gave Sun Briar more rein, and IN a few
POUNDS he increased his lead another
length.
But he could not get any further
away. for Johren and War Cloud were
full of running and closed up the gap
on the long straightaway. Fifty yards
before the turn was reached Jockey
Knapp reverted to the strategic move
which eventually gave his colt the VIC
tory. He eased up his mount and al
lowed Johren to 90 past him, The crowd
was unaware OF Knapp's action. and as
the Whitney colt sped to the front a
roar OK Sun Briar is beaten" rent the
air, The next instant ten thousand
Threats Numbered the news that Johren
wins Knapp's action had fooled them
Johren Sets the Pace.
sun Briar was not beaten by any
means As soon as Johren took COM
mand Knapp let out another wrap on his
feins and kept Sun Briar on the heels of
the leader Into the homestretch Johren
sped at dazzling pace, with Sun Briar
sui hanging at his tail. Johren Is known
as mighty stretch runner. Sun Briar's
ability to hang on had caused much sur
Prise. But there was a still bigger sur
Prise TO come. Knapp's strategic move
had not been completed. He had re-
treated. and was awaiting the psycholos-
iea moment to charge. That came at
fhe final eighth pole. At that point he
dug his heels into the finaks OF his
mount, 1t was like an electric spark to Sun
Briar and II had the desired result Mr.
hilmer's colt sprang forward as though
shot out OF a cannon, and in a few
pounds was at Johren's throat latch.
Then followed one OF the most thrilling
equine dueis of the last decade. Rob-
inson on Johren saw the danger and
Immediately went to work with whip
ana heels Johren responded cour-
aseously and maintained his short ad-
vantage until n sixteenth of n mile from
me judges. Then Knapp resorted to the
whip. He laid II hard and often over his
great colts TANKS. The punishment was
severe. but Sun Briar ran faster under
y and poked his nose in front. And
here he kept It despite the desperate
enorts Of Johren and his Jockey to win
the famous race.
After Sun Briar had won Mr.. Kilmer
Kissed Mrs. Kilmer and hurried TO the
paddock 10 congratulate his trainer and
Jockey. Mr.. Whitney was we'll pleased