Evening star., 1951-04-15
By Lewis r. Atchison


LAUREL, Md, April l4.-Repe-
toire, the horse with the mis-
spelled name and tendency to loaf
when out in front. won a head de-
cision over the oncoming Alerted
in the 30th running of the $20,-
O00-added Chesapeake Stakes here
today.
A throng of 19,703 fans saw
Mrs. Nora A. Mikell's color-b bearer
lead virtually for the full dis
tance of mile and sixteenth
to score his third consecutive VIC
tory Of the year. The victory,
however, lost some of it's prestige
due to the late withdrawal of
Yildiz, Mrs. Walter M. Jeffords'
pre-race favorite. Yildiz was
scratched after developing a slight
swelling in one leg during a morn
ing tune-up for the race.
Whirling Bat Closes Fast.
A length and a half back Of
Alerted and coming like his IA
nous sire. Whirlaway, was Tom
my Mays one-horse stable, Whirl-
ing Bat. Another 21a lengths be-
hind was Alan T. Clarke's Sena-
tor Joe, one of three Kentucky
Derby eligibles in the field.
Repertoire, the 3D. choice. paid
IS, 1920 and $3.50 across the
board. Alerted returned $3.50 and
50. while Whirling Bats show
price was $3.40.
Repertoire, well handled by
Jockey Peter Mclean, ran the
distance in respectable but not
sensational 1:45.1 over a fast
track. Mclean had to 60 to the
whip in the stretch and one jump
past the wire Alerted, with Charley
Givens in the saddle, was in front.
He was easy to rate" Mclean
said after the race. IT had no
trouble with him at any stage.
but I was hoping something would
come to him sooner in the stretch
because he started to ease up
again"
Mclean now has won four
straight stakes. three on Repertoire
and one on Alerted. He said
Alerted was the only horse he
really feared but that Repertoire
was full Of run at the finish. He
simply wanted to look around
and see what the rest of them
were doing" the jockey explained,
Duel for Early Lead.
The first running at Laurel Of
the famed Chesapeake, a legacy
from the abandoned Havre de
Grace track, was two-horse
speed duel between Repertoire, a
chestnut son Of Happy Argo-My
Hattie and Senator Joe for almost
three-quarters of the distance.
The Senator went to the front
on the run to the clubhouse turn
after a smooth, even start, with
Mclean seemingly fighting to
hold Repertoire in check. Senator
Joe, running without blinkers
again despite word that he would
wear them. went wide on the turn
and Repertoire went inside to take
the lead. They ran almost as
team down the backstretch. Repe-
toire half length ahead on the
inside, with the rest of the field
some three lengths behind.
Alerted made his move on the
turn as Senator Joe began to fade.
Whirling Bat, ridden by Nick Shuk.
had to go wide, but showed plenty
of willingness.
Givens said he thought Alerted
would come on to win as they
passed the sixteenth pole. He had
no excuses for the Bull Lea colt
from the Hampton Stable. Alerted
didn't quite reach Repertoire at
that point and when Mclean gave
the eventual winner a couple Of
licks of the whisp he stretched out
enough to get to the wire.
Crowd Below Expectations.
Bobby Mitchell said Senator Joe
ran well and had no excuses, ap-
parently confirming suspicious
that the Ala King-Bola Mowlee
Colt is not bred for a route.
The crowd was a few thousand
under expectations, as was the
days wagering Of $1,295, ,425. Last
Saturday the attendance was 21.-
612 and the machines took in
$1,318,390.
However. the betting on the
feature race, which totaled $201.-
1870, was the highest amount
wagered on any single race at
Laurel during the current meet
ing.
The race crossed $23,025, with
Repertoire picking up $15,700 to
boost his earnings for the. year to
$27,215.
The Virginia bred colt will be
shipped to Kentucky the middle
EgA ~ -