New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-17

with which Sam Hildreth had declared
to win. was just about reaching the six
teenth when his stable mate earned the
S6,500 that went to the Derby winner.
knobbie was very much discredited
last of the field of four.
Il was great day for the Rancocas
Stable, even though trainer Sam Hill
oreth appeared to be guessing wrong
all che while. This formidable racing
establishment tok not only the Derby
with, Grey Lag, but also scored brackets
in the Whirl Stakes of $500, the sec
cndary feature of the afternoon. But
in both cases the nominations with
which he declared to win failed either
Sam or Buddy Ensor dismally.
Grey Lag Saves Day
Grey Lag had to come to the rescue
Of Mobile in the big classic; Little
Chief saved the white and green when
Kai-Sang came to grief. Kai-Sang,
which had been declared in the Whirl,
was quickly outrun and finished ninth.
s.mong field thirteen.
Though Grey Lag won the Empire
City Derby, he did not show to the ad-
vantage most Of his admirers expected.
These had come to regard the Star
Shoot colt as ething Of Man O.
War But Grey Lag did not win like
Man O. War. Indeed. he was pretty
straight in standing off the stout chal-
lenge of Sporting Blood at the end and
had TO BIO shaken up by Lsverne Fator
through the final sixteenth. Nor was
his victory as widely acclaimed as that
of Little Chief in the Whirl. Perhaps
this was because fewer of the holiday
crowd dared take chances at prohibit
tive odds. Grey Lag and Knobbie were
held at l TO 4 throughout while even
money could be had against the Kali
Sang Little Chief combination.
1t was the Quincy Stables Copper
Demon that made the Derby the race
it was. This one was nominated over
night in the hope that the track would
be muddy, for Copper Demon is q real
mud horse from the tip Of his nose to
the last hair in his tail. By the time
the feature was put on the track had
it might be called good. AS result
Copper Demon was the outsider with
the oralists.
knObbie Sets Pace
They started above the stretch turn,
and as the small field swung past the
grandstand for the first time Knobbie
was out in front, with Sporting Blood
and Copper Damon close up and Grey
Lag trailing. During the run down the
stretch Mooney crossed over from an
outside position with Copper Demon
to the softer going along the rail. At
the clubhouse turn, hugging the rail
closely, he moved up quickly and went
at the pacemaker.
Before the half-rnile mark had been
reached Knobbie gave signs that he did
not particularly relish Copper Demons
game. The Quincy colt, once he struck
the back straight, soon pulled away from
knobbie by two lengths OF more. It
could be seen that Knobbie was
through.
Then Fator made a move with Grey
Lag. He just eased UP to and past the
others, then rated his mount behind
the pace as they swung UP the "hill"
and took the far bend. Clarence Kun
ner, on Sporting Blood, kept right at
Grey Lag's heels meanwhile. Buddy En-
sor, with the leg up on Knobbie, al
ready had relinquished the honor to
Grey Lag, for Knobbie was steadily
falling back into disgrace.
Sporting Blood Sparta
Resolutely and gamely Copper De-
mon Numbered on around the far turn,
but with each stride Grey Lag was
creeping up on him and to the outside.
As they Strengthened for the short
8 olIcbCi IuIi tHt NdHCOC&S SLdr was on
even terms with the Demon. He quick
~ drew away to lead of several
lengths. Just then Hummer made his
bid with Sporting Blood.
Coming TO the inside at the stretch
turn, the Redstone Stables colt quickly
disposed of Copper Demon for the
place, then went out boldly for Grey
Lag. Fator scented the danger wher
she felt his mount weaken about The
sixteenth and piled the whip vigor.
ously. Grey Lag responded, but al
ready Sporting Blood was too close fol
comfort. Through the last sixteenth
1t was pretty duel between horses and
riders, but Grey Lag had a half lengths
advantage as the finish was reached.
The Whirl Stakes furnished rea,
thrill, for the favorite stable Cor hall
It's representation just did manage
to save the day. The race almost re.
suited in a gigantic upset, as Frank
j. Farrell's FLY, Nancy r., threatened
to spread the field at one time. Nancy
r. showed rare gameness and wonder
4 ful loot and she carried her weight
+ well, too.
At the start. which was sornewhs,
struggling, Nancy II. raced quickly to
the front and cut out such daszlinp
pace that most of the youngsters were
& dizzy trying to catch her. Kai-Sanr
4. was lost in the pack somewhere. Fator
had to put UP the ride Of his life ia
get Little Chief up to the pacemaker
Inside the sixteenth pole the effort told
on Nancy II. and the Rancocas colors
flashed to the front. Little Chief WON
& going away.
Runstar Held at Post
This race as run gave no true line
on the merits of the field. Take A. B
Runstar, for example. An
assistant starter had this son OF
Runnymede by the head when the gate
was sprung and forgot to turn loose Ut
once. Just why assistants are allowed
to take horses by the head must ever
remain mystery. Invariably they put
some contender out of the race and
almost without exception one heavily
played.
Runstar suffered all the III luck that
could befall a Thoroughbred. Practi-
rally, left, he was buffeted about when
he finally did get to running, and then
MAS carried wide all the way. He
closed with wonderful burst OF speed
through the stretch and failed by
inches to head penitent for third
money. The Whitney FLY, by the way,
ran an excellent race.
But the hardest bit of racing luck
seen all season was responsible for the
defeat of the Quincy Stables two-year-
old Ray Jay in the last dash of FIVE
and a half furlongs. This colt reared
and was left ten lengths behind the
rest of the field, which was off to 8