Evening star., 1946-05-12
Assau|tCaptures
Preakness,T
Richest Purse
Beuts Lord Boswell
By Neck; Hompden
Again Runs Third
BY Francis {. Stonn

P1ML1CO, Md, May 11.-Stav-
ing off a courageous charge by
Lord Boswell down the stretch
of the historic Pimlico race
course, Robert J. Kleberg, Jr.'s
Assault proved his Kentucky
Derby triumph of a week ago was
deserved by capturing the 56th
running of the Preakness here
today before 42,370 spectators in
the richest race in American
turf history.
1t was no eight lengths margin
by which the gallant Texas colt
won today, but neck decision over
Lord Boswell, pre-Derby favorite
and darling of Mrs. Elizabeth Gra-
hams Maine Chance Farm. With
Jockey Doug Dodson of Idaho fail
ing Boswell's flank with his bat Mrs.
Graham's pet roared from sixth
place at the half-mile mark to sec
ond at the head of the stretch and
almost caught the flying Assault at
the end of the mile and three-six-
teenthS classic.
Assault Not Helped by Whip.
Assault, which was whipped down
the stretch at Churchill Dow7as a
week ago, today was hand-ridden
by his rider, Warren Mehrtens of
Brooklyn, down most of the last
eighth of a mile When Mehrtens
was asked for the reason in a race
SO close, he explained that he went
to the whip once between the eighth
and sixteenth poles and that As
sault jumped dangerously close to
the rail and into the deepest part
of the track He scared me to
DEATH" admitted Mehrtens. After
that one whack, forgot the bat"
In third place, four lengths back
of Lord Boswell, was Foxcatcher
Farms Hampden, finishing precisely
where he wound up in the Derby,
He was ridden by Eddie Arcaro,
who passed up Lord Boswell to
have leg up on Hampden Mrs.
Graham's Knockdown, second half
of the Maine Chance entry, was
fourth.
Time Is Slowest in Years.
Although the track was pro-
nounced fast. Assaults time of
2:0125 was the slowest in l3 years
since Head Play won over slow
strip in 2:02. This partly was ex-
planned by the fact that Pimlico's
track is unusually deep this year,
built more for safety than speed.
Assault, first Texas bred horse
ever to win the Preakness, added
s99, ,120 to Owner Kleberg's Golfers
today, bringing his total of net
earnings in the last eight days to
sl95, $50. Had Assault been an
original instead of a supplementary
entry, the net value to Kleberg of
the fabulous King Ranch would
have been s1ol,985. There were
four supplementary entries in the
field of l0-Assault, Hampden, Wee
Admiral, which finished eighth; and
Marine Victory, which ran ninth.
A supplementary entry is a horse
which can be entered as late as
April IS for fee of $4,000. An
original entry costs total OF s1,l35.
Richest Race Ever in II. s.
When Bomar Stables Billy Bumps
was scratched early this morning
and the field reduced to 10, the
gross value of this Preakness was
reduced to S139.620, but it still
stands as the richest race ever run
in America. topping the last Santa
Anita Handicap, which had a value
of s136,22O.
At least three other records we're
set today. The crowd of 42370
Was the largest in Maryland racing
history and the s446,140 wagered
on the Preakness, sixth race on the
program, established a new record
handle for a single race here.
The third mark was the DAYS
handle for a full day of MARYLAND
racing-S2, PIG ,120. The previous
record was $1,9O6,0l4, established at
Pimlico on November Is, 1914.
AS the Preakness field broke from
the barrier, it was Mrs. Walter M,
Jeffords' Natchez. followed by Will
liam Helis' Tidy Bid and r. S. Nc
Laughlin's Wee Admiral which set
the pace. At the half-mile mark,
two of these outsiders remained on
top, Natchez leading Tidy Bid by a
neck, but Wee Admiral had dropped
back and Assault moved into third,
followed by Hampden, Knockdown
and Boswell.
Assault Moves Into Lead.
At the three-quarters- of "a mile
mark, Assault had taken the lead,
with Natchez second. Hampden
third and Lord Boswell fourth. Then
Natchez folded. as had Wee Ad-
miral, Tidy Bid, Cedar Farm S
Lovemenow and Bobanet Stable s
Marine Victory.
At the head of the stretch, ap-
proximately at the mile mark, As
sault took command by three
lengths, but Lord Boswell began
coming up fast after trying to find
racing room. Whipping the hand
some son of Boswell -Fantine des-
perately, Jockey Dodson made up
| Continued on Page B-l., Col, 81
N>I