New-York tribune., 1919-09-03

Thunderclap won the Jerome Handi-
cap OF $1,000 added at a mile over a
muddy track in the very crcditablc time
of 1888 fiat. This was within l 3-5 sec
onds of the track record for the dis
tance Barring the sensational victory
OF EXterminator over Purchase at Sar-
atoga Saturday Thundcrclap's was
about the best performance of "mud-
ding" seen on the big circuit this year.
Originally Mr. Hildreth had nomi-
mated three of his three -ycar-old thor
oughbreds for yesterdays feature and
when he scratched both Purchase and
Lord Brighton it was the common be-
lief the event had been robbed Of much
OF its interest. But such was not the
case, it proved a little later. Also it
proved Mr. Hildreth knew what he was
about when he paid a fancy price for
Thunderclap.
Coe Pair Favoritcs
The Coe pair, Over Therc-which had
looked like real stake horse in Sara
toga-and Athlonc, were the favored Of
the public and ruled / to 9 favorites
IN the market. For most of the race it
looked as if this was a particularly
long price, too
Falrbrother was ready and soon
pulled out to a good lead with over
There. Down the backstrctch he opened
up gap of two or three lengths, though
his mount appeared always we'll within
himself. The only one Of the field of
five that could keep within gunshot of
Over There after the first half mile
was Mr. Hidrcth's Thunderclap. Little
Laverne Fator, who had the leg up.
rated his mount nicely off the pace.
Around the far bend he gave Thunder
clap breather, but at the stretch turn
he let his mount down for drive.
In few strides Fator had crowded
Ihunderclap almost onto the heels Of
the flying pacemaker Fairbrother i'm
mcdiatcly got busy with Over There.
but work as he would he could not
shake off Thundcrclap. which came to
the outside and got up to his saddle
glrth at the top of the stretch.
FOR the next few seconds there was
action enough for everybody. Over
lnere, when let down, showed evidences
OF being tired, but the experienced
Fairbrother attempted to offset the dif
ficulty by superiority in horsemanship.
At the furiong pole the two horses
were nose to nose, with both boys driv-
ing like mad. They came down to the
wire, the lead Alternating, apparently,
with every stride, but right at the end
Thunderclap outgamed Over There, for
the latter hung, faltered and droppcd
back a half length.
The others were all beaten away off
had been beaten almost from the
start. F. d. Wcir's Tetlcy was the only
one that could keep within halng dis
tance of the two, and Tctlcy. which
dropped into third money, was ten
lengths behind Over There.
Two Choices Score
In view Of the depressing weather the
attendance was remarkable Because
of the heavy rains the scratching was
lighter than might have been expected
Form stood out as prominently as might
be expected, as two odds-on choices
won their heats and Thunderclap was
we'll regarded second choice.
The chagrin of w. R. Coc over the
defeat of Over There was somewhat al
levlated IN the very next race, the fifth,
when ms entries, Star Court and Masked
Dancer, ridden by McAtee and Fair
brother respectively, ran onc-two all
the way just about as they pleased. The
stable was held at to 2. Goblin.
which won the steeplechase in romp,
was the other winning odds-o on. He beat
Guilfight by ten lengths, which in turn
beat Irish Girl, the only other of the
maiden starters, by about a quarter of
mile.