Evening star., 1953-02-15
Straight Face and Intent
Both Backed Down to 3-5
Greentree Colt Tires
After Being Fouled
By me Assoeiused Press

MIAMI, Fla. Feb. 14.-Royal
Bay Gem was the gem of the
pack today as he scampered to
a .two-length victory in the $685.
OO0-added Everglades Stakes at
Hialeah Park.
Royal Bay Gem, owned by
Eugene Constantin. jr., Of Dallas.
Tex, went to the post at nearly
l8 to and. with Jimmy Combest
riding, whipped a classy field of
IS other three-year-olds in this
test for Flamingo and Kentucky
Derby prospects.
L. B. Mayors Blaze was second
and Mrs. o. S. Deming's Thaxter
third, with Mrs. Wallace Gilroy's
Slim finishing fourth in the test
at a mile and an eighth.
B. S. Campbell's Ram o. War
interfered with the heavily fa-
vored Greentree Stables Straight
Face at the eighth pole. Ram
o. War finished third, but the
stewards disqualified him and
dropped him to last place.
Unlucky Favorite Ninth.
That moved Thaxter into third
and Slim to fourth. Straight Face
finished ninth.
Royal Bay Gem paid $37 40,
$20.30 and 1880 in the So mu-
tuels. Blaze. who ran in the Mu-
tuel field along with six other
horses. paid So and $4.7O, while
Thaxter returned $3.50.
Royal Bay Gem, eligible for
Hialeah's 100000 added Flam-
lingo Stakes two weeks from to-
day, ran the mile and a furlong
in the fair time of 1:5O3s over
q fast track. The fractions were
:222s, :45A, Ill, 1878 and
1:50as. The track record is 1:47H
set by Spartan Valor last year.
Racing Secretary Charles j.
McIesnen rigged a special start
ing eate to accommodate the
biggest. field of three year -olds
ever to compete in q Hialeah
feature. The start was nearly
perfect with the horses out of
the gate almost abreast.
Charfran Stables Brown Boot
er took the early lead along with
Slim, while the Brookmeade
Stables First Aid. Charles A.
O'Neil's Air Pine and Straight
Face also were close UP.
Winner OF Slowly.
Royal Bay Gem was 10th as
they rounded the clubhouse turn
and moved up to 10th on the far
side. He was third in the stretch
and came charging down the
long Straightaway to overhaul
the leaders and draw away at
the end.
Straight Face, 3-to-5 favorite
with the big crowd of 23,745,
appeared to be tiring when Ram
O'War came over on him and
| the Greentree colt meyer recov-
cred.
Royal Bay Gem earned $685.
500 of the gross purse of $37,-
300. Trainer Clyde Trout said
the black colt has been nomi-
mated for the Kentucky Derby
In May.
Combest said the son of Royal
Gem II even surprised him as he
came from far back and circled
three horses at the eighth pole.
Shows Liking for Distance.
/ There was no doubt in my
mind at the head Of the stretch, =
/ the rider said. "F1e was still GO
ing strong at the finish and will
go as far as horses will rum"
Jockey Ted Atkinson, riding
Straight Face, complained Of
the rough trip.
I'VE got our horse back and
hope he is still in one piece, y
Atkinson said. Il had a rough
trip all the way-was head and
head going into the first turn
and then ] got il"
All the horses in today's bulky
field except First Aid and Puc-
ekty Farms Rocket Blue are
eligible for the rich Flamingo
also for 3-year-olds at a mile
and a furlong.
Betting on the feature race
was 56.957 and the total handle
for the day was $l,954, ,384, the