Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-03-25
AIerted Close Third
In Thrilling Finish;
Foul Claim Rejected
SpecioI Clspotch 10 The Stor

49, SASA1s 3AS'f 4N4csl S1s-~41Cl A1 C1
almost had a dead heat in it's
feature race this afternoon for
the second straight day. This time
it was IN the first running OF the
$500 Cherry Blossom Stakes fa
3-year-olds, and four horses were
involved. The camera gave Mrs.
N. A. Mikell's stout-hearted Rope
toire nose decision over General
Staff.
Alerted was third, nose behind
Larry McPhall's General Staff and
only neck ahead of the fourth
place Blue Helmet from the
Brookmeade Stable. AS if this was
not enough excitement for the
1918 Wind-blown fans, Jockey
Joe Culmone, Blue Helmets rider,
kept them waiting for the judges
decision while he claimed a foul
against Repertoire, the horse with
the misSpelled name. Culmone
said Repertoire, ridden by Peter
Mclean, kept Juggling in on him
during their head-to-head stretch
duel. The stewards didn't agree
with him.
All This and Glamour, Too.
Laurel's new management added
glamour to the occasion by having
Movie Actress Jane Russell pre-
sent the trophy to David Green,
who represented Mrs. Mikell.
Miss Russell was accompanied by
Joan Claire Spayde. Maryland's
1851 Cherry Blossom Queen.
1t was Repetoire's first start as
a three-year- old and fifth win in
his last II races. Purchased by his
present owner for $4,000, the
chestnut son of Happy Argo-My
Hattie, earned $6.115 by mis- vic
tory and paid $7.20, $420 and
$500 across the board.
Although the Cherry Blossom is,
one of several six-furlong sprints,
regarded as tune-ups for the
Chesapeake Stakes, which, in turn,
is supposed to be a guage for the
Kentucky Derby, Repetoire's time
OF 1925 was not outstanding.
The track record for the distance
is 1895, made by Magnet last
year in the Capitol Handicap.
Only Two Derby Nominees.
Repertoire and General Staff |
were the only horses in the field
Of nine nominated for the Derby
but the winner got in six pounds
lighter than General Staff, which
was top-weighted at l24 pounds
with Whirling Bat. The latter,
winner of the recent Louisiana .
Derby. raced wide and was never
a factor, Apparently she needs
more distance. !
Repertoire was a slight favorite
over General Staff at $3.50 to l,
and Alerted. from the Hampton
Stable, was third choice. General
Staff paid $3.50 and 1920. /
MCLEAN gave the winner a good
ride, breaking fifth from No. 8
post position, and rating him
nicely until the head of the stretch
where he moved outside to get
the lead. Ronnie Nash, on Gen I
eral Staff, got into close quarters
leaving the backstretch, after lying
fourth most of the way, and gave
his horse stout stretch ride. You
could say the same for Culmone
on Blue Helmet and Ira Hanford
on Alerted. Culmone, breaking
from the No. l spot, lead from the
bell to the stretch and got in
tight spot there as Repertoire took
over.
Foul Claim Stands Up.
Alerted was third from the half
way point, but simply didn't have
enough speed to make up the
scant two yards separating him
from the winner.
Another foul claim. made by
Bobby Martin riding Jersey King
in the third race, was sustained
by the stewards. Martin lodged
protest after Shrewd, with Nash .
up, bolted and interfered with
Jersey King. The former seemed
certain of winning at the time.
There was a little less excite
ment about the first two winners
and the daily double today.
BombcaSe took the first at a
$3.50 mutuel and Kyalla won the
second at a $500 pay-off for
S102 dol1h1e