Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-07
Beats Smoke Screen
By Lengths in Mud;
Capeador Runs Third
sy III. A..ee,a,ed Pres.

NoS0St0tO0
NEW ORLEANS, Mar. Ct.
p. Morgan's Grover B. 24-to-1
shot, took an early lead today
to stage an amazing upset in
the $66, 900 New Orleans Handi-
cap at the Fairgrounds.
Grover B extended his lead
to five lengths in the backstretch
and hung on gamely to outlast'
Smoke Screens late threat by
two lengths. Capeador. half OF
the favored Brookmeade Stable
entry, was third.
Grover B. rarely front-run-
ner in past races. took the lead
from Leslie Jane Stables Top
Brass as the 13-horse field made
the first turn.
Jockey Paul Bailey urged the
son of Blue Swords onward as
the field Strengthened out and
gradually pulled away over the
muddy track. A tremendous roar
went up from the $4,000 fans
as Grover BIS prices were posted.
The Morgan color-bearer re-
turned his scattered hackers
$51.40. $21.80 aand SO. Smoke
Screen paid $1140 and $500.
while Capeador. a 9-to-5 fav-
orite with his stablemate, First
Aid, returned $3.50.
Smoke Screen Tries Gamely.
Revere Farms Smoke Screen.
making a valiant effort to score
q repeat victory in the rich race.
made a strong challenge in the
sloppy stretch, but Grover B was
not to be denied.
Grover BIS time Of 1:52 for the
mile and one-eighth was well
off the track record. but good
enough to collect around SAT. 900
for his Texas owner. Capeador
held fourth place through most
of the early running. but the A.
year-old son of Bull Lea was not
up to the task, winding up four
and one half lengths behind
Smoke Screen.
Top Brass went to the front
as expected as the field went
past the grandstand for the first
time. First Aid and Grover B
trailed closely behind. but Grover
B left nothing in doubt as the
field sloshed around the first
turn.
Grover B swung into the
stretch with a three length lead,
but Smoke Screen, under Jockey
Billy Fisk, was beginning to pour
it on, Showing a distinct liking
for the heavy going, Grover B
sailed past the sixteenth pole
and still had some daylight be-
tween him and the nenacing
Smoke Screen.
Royal Bay Gem Fourth.
First Aid and Top Brass were
far behind at the finish. running
ninth and 18th.
Royal Bay Gem, second betting
choice, was unable to come
through with his expected blaz-
ing finish. but managed to make
up enough ground to take fourth
place. He was far back in the
early stages and was passing
tired horses at the end.
Circle K Farms Grey 3-year-
old, Mighty Ike, staged a blazing
stretch run to take the $1,000
Derby Prep. a mile and one
sixteenth feature for candidates
for the $4,000 Louisiana Derby
next Saturday.
Mighty Ike moved into con-
tention after the top of the
stretch and battled Red Hanni-
gan down to the wire. The photo
finish gave Mighty Ike a nose
decision. Joe w. Browns Bobby
Brocato. a two-to-one favorite.
was a length behind Mighty
Ike.
A 14-to-1 shot in the betting,
Mighty Ike returned $3.50.
$14.80 and Sc. Red Hannigan.
Woodley Lane Farms hope for
a Louisiana Derby victory, re-
turned $500 and 81 with the
early pacemaker. Bobby Brocato.
returning $3.50.
The Louisiana Derby will close
the Fair Grounds 81st season,
the richest in the tracks history.