Evening star., 1953-11-15
Whitney FiIIy Beats
Queen Hopeful by
Length al Laurel
By Lewis F. Atchison
Stor Stoff Correspondent

LAUREL, Md, Nov. IA
Small Favor, c. v. Whitney's
big 2-year-old filly, proved to
be too durable for II young f1lly
rivals today as she won the
29th running of the Selma
Stakes before a crowd of 16,024.
Given a masterful ride by
Peter Mclean, the daughter of
Priam II-Little Saint came from
last place at the half-mile pole
to run her opposition into the
ground. She ran the mile and
sixteenth over a fast track
in 1:462s, giving Whitney his
first Selma victory since 1888,
when Sonny Workman brought
Jabot to the winners circle.
Hasty House Farms Queen
Hopeful, the 2-to-1 favorite
finished second, beaten by a
length. Queen Hopeful was
pressed to save the $4,000 run
ner-up money by head from
Darby Dan Farms Clear Dawn.
Walter M. Jeffords' Open Sesame
was fourth, a half length father
back.
Richest Purse for Race.
BY her victory, Small Favor,
picked up $44,910 out of a gross
purse of $57,760. In 10 previous
races, she had won $11 400.
The purse was the richest in
the history of the race, surpass-
ing the $42,330 value of last
years race won by Tritium.
Small Favor was completely
overlooked in the betting by the
crowd and paid $47.20, $17.20 and
$3.50. Queen Hopeful returned
$3.50 and $3.50, while Clear Dawn
paid $7.40 to show.
It was the second straight vic
tory for Small Favor, who won
a six-furlong affair at Jamaica
q little more than a week ago.
Her time, considering a poor
start, was good. The Whitney
filly was last going around the
clubhouse turn, as Foxcatcher
Farms Parlo and Maine Chance
Farms FaScinator set the early |
pace. They covered the six fur
longs in 1885, and the mile in
1:394s.
Wins in Stretch Battle.
Mclean, threading his way
through horses as he used to do |
with Repertoire, got Small Favor
running as the field headed into
the last turn. Between that
point and the stretch he fought
his way to the fore, picking up |
Open Sesame, Queen Hopeful,
Clear Dawn and Parlo. The lat
ter, with Willie Boland up,
chucked it at that point and
faded to a ninth-place finish
ahead of Pegeen and In The Sky.
Clear Dawn got her nose in
front of Small Favor between
calls and for moment it seemed |
that she might take clear lead.
But Mclean went to the whip
and Small Favor came on to
win, while Johnny Adams on
Queen Hopeful charged past
Clear Dawn.
The fog delayed motorists en- |
route to Laurel. Vision was so
poor that when they found
themselves behind trucks most |
drivers preferred to creep along
rather than risk passing. 1t
was difficult to see approaching
cars even with lights on.
The 2-8 combination won the
daily double pool as Thornclif /
Farms Daisy Rain won the first !
race and Carolyn K Stables In
dian Lad took the second. Two
dollar tickets paid $9640. Daisy
Rain paid $3.50 to win while
Indian Lad returned $13.40.
Apprentice Jockey Johnny
Rotz rode his third winner in
four races when he piloted C. M. |
Graham's Wabash Moon to an
upset victory in the sixth race.
1t gave the youngster Is winners
for the meeting. moving him
into second place behind Nick
Shuk, the leader with "a.
This mile and one-sixteenth
race was for a $4,000 purse and
was named for the late Mrs.
Robert H. Heighe, First Lady
of Maryland racing" Her
nephew presented a challenge
trophy to Trainer Jimmy Watts
after the race.