Evening star., 1939-03-05
Son Of Bull Doq
Is First Home
by3Lengths
$1,000 at HioIeuh See
Big Fovorite Trail
Sir Domion, Second
BY GAYLE TALBOT.
Associated Press Sports Writer,

ny 0H LIZ ALoO1.
Associated Press Sports Writer.
MIAMI, Fla, March 4.-Bull Lea,
tenacious big son of Bull Dog, tore
the heart from six opponents, in
cluding the great Stagehand, and
pounded home first today In the
$50000 added Widener Challenge
Cup at Hialeah Park before 1900
surprised spectators.
Third choice in the betting, Bull
Lea jumped into the lead at the
head of the stretch and bounded
away to win by three good lengths
over Sir Damion, which was a half
length in front of Stagehand, the
odds-on favorite. Maxwell How
ards colt ran into a horse he
couldn't collar in his closing rush.
Backers of Warren Wright's VIC
torious 4-year-old collected $500
for So straight mutuel tickets, 81
to place and s220 to show. Sir
Damion, coupled with Mrs. w.
Plunket Stewards Pasteurized as an
entry of Trainer George M. Odom,
paid 1920 to place and 1920 to
show. The show price on Stage
hand was the same.
A total of $144,349 was bet on
the race, setting record here.
Bull Lea Takes Command.
The closing day classic of Hia.
leah's season, run against back
ground of tropical beauty saw Sir
Damion. owned by Marshall Field
and ridden by the sensational Don
Meade, assume lead at the gate
and hold it steadily until Ira AM
derson called upon Bull Lea three
furlongs from home.
From that moment there wasn't
doubt. Stagehands last previous
defeat, incidentally, also was ad-
ministered by Bull Lea-at Narra-
gansett Park last August.
The son of Sickle, trying to add
todays rich prize to his two big
money victories at Santa Anita last
year, waited too long. AS far as
the half-mile pole he was last. far
back of the pacesetters. When
Jimmy Stout finally did urge him
coming into the stretch it was ap-
parent he didn't have a chance un-
less Bull Lea broke a leg.
Win Expected by Wright.
Earl Sande, the favorite's famous
trainer, conceded defeat a furlong
from the finish. turning away sadly
and saying: He waited too long
too long"
Wright couldn't restrain his JOY
as they led Bull Lea into the in
closure before the cheering crowd
I'VE knew he was a great horse
and fully expected him to take
Stagehand today" he said.
The first prize was s46,450 and
ran Bull Lea's total winning to
S94,825. Sir Damion's second place
was worth $1,000 and Stagehands
third. $4,000, putting him above the
5000 900 mark. The winners time
Of 2:022s was three-fifth of a second
of the track record for the 1l4-mile
route. Bull Lea carried 1l9 pounds
to Stagehand's top 126.
Pasteurized Disappoints.
Four of the seven starters, Pas
teurized, Mythical King, Francesca
and Xavier, never threatened. Pas
teurized was big disappointment,
failing badly after moving briefly
into third place half mile out and
winding up a dismal last, eight
lengths behind Xavier, which had
been entered only on the of chance
the track would be muddy.
AS the race turned out there was
no reason to bewail the absence Of
War Admiral, withdrawn earlier
this week because of a fuctuating
temperature. Stagehands admirers
had been sad because the Admiral
wouldn't be in there to take licking
from their horse.
I stood behind Sande and studied
his emotions as Stagehand, his pride
and joy, failed to come through.
Sande fully expected to win, al
though he had plenty of respect for
Bull Lea after the McLennan Me-
mortal fortnight ago. when Stage
hand beat him off by only a neck.
Sande was calm and well satisfied
as the field went down the back
stretch, with Stagehand probably so
yards back of the leaders.
Sande Gives Up.
Hes horse you can't try to
rush." he kept explaining. He'll do
his running when he gets ready"
A quarter mile from home he
yipped happily as he saw his horse
move past the trailers. He still
thought Satgehand could do it.
When they came into the stretch,
though, and he saw the power Of
Bull Lea's stride, Sande wilted and
lowered his glasses.
That's the way it goes" he said.
In few more jumps Stagehand
would have passed Sir Damion, tir-
ing badly under the pace he had
set all the way, but he wouldn't
have caught Bull Lea If they had
run until nightfall.
The horses move Monday to
Tropical Park for a 30-day meeting,
Bio Ten Basket Crown