Evening star., 1961-06-25
Chicot Rallies,
ipsFdvorite
AT Delaware
By JOSEPH B. KELLY
Star Racing Editor

STANTON. Del, June "a
Rallying from last in a field Of
IL, George D. Widener's Chicot,
a 2-year-old son Of Tom Fool,
stuck his head in front at the
wire today to win the $25,450
Christiana Stakes before 1902
at Delaware Park.
Running seventh an eighth
of a mile from the finish, Chi
cot. ridden by Michael Sorren-
tino, charged down the middle
Of the track and nipped Town
send B. Martins Sunrise Coun-
ty, the 8-5 favorite, in a five
horse photo finish.
Mrs. John r. H. Thouron's
Merry New Year was third, a
half length behind Sunrise
County and a head in front of
Mamelot. Mrs. Alfred G. Van
debrilt's GangbuSter was nosed
out for fourth by Mamelot.
Chicot, making only his third
start. was ignored by the big
weekend crowd and paid $42,
$11.80 and $500 across the
board. His time of 1:O63s over
a fast track was nowhere near
the track record of 1:04K for
5 furlongs set by lisa Great Day
when he beat Garry Back in
the same race last year.
First Banker Challenges
Sunrise County, piloted by
John L. Rotz, bounced into the
lead when the gate opened.
Sunshine Stables First Banker
Immediately challenged the ia
vorite and ran alongside him
until finally yielding at the
eighth pole.
Merry New Year also was
close up throughout the dash
and finished strongly but was
no match for Chicot.
Jockey Sorrentino explained
after diSmounting:
HE (Chicot) was in close
going down the back stretch
and even when I was clear at
the top Of the stretch I didn't
think I had a chance. He
really moved through the
Rotz made no excuses for
Sunrise County, who was pur-
chased for $4,000 as a yearling
and who entered the Christiana
with a record of two victories
and two seconds.
Second For Widener
HE did everything perfect.
I thought I had it won when I
put away that horse (First
Banker) at the eighth pole, A."
Rotz declared.
For owner Widener 1t was
his second victory in the Chris
tiana, run for the oath time
today. It was % years ago that
his Eight Thirty captured the
second Christiana here. That
was worth only $4,000.
Chicot picked up a winners
share of $18,4 ,450 this afternoon
in his initial stakes triumph.
Sorrentino made it an ex-
tremely profitable afternoon
for himself when he returned
after winning the ChriStiana to
drive the Greentree Stables
EuraSia to a length triumph in
the $12,500 Princess Doreen
Turf Handicap.
Saving ground along the
inside hedge at the turn for
home, Eurasia turned back
Howell E. Jackson's Four
Fathoms by a length. John S.
Burrows Dirce took third and
Alfred Vanderbilt's 11-year-
old gelding Find was fourth.
EuraSia, who carried lit
pounds, five less than the top
weighted Harmonizing, who
ran sixth, paid $500 straight.
Once again Rotz finished Sec
ond to Sorrentino as he was
aboard Four Fathoms. The
Jaclyn Stables Lii Fella, the
favorite, faded to eighth in the
mile and sixteenth test. The
Brandywine Handicap winner
tired in the soft footing.
Eurasia ran the distance in
1858, four and two fifths off
the course record.
Betting on the eight races
totaled 81, ,788, asa, largest of the
meeting to date.
In the daily double, Cleveland
Skinker's Tuscanaway, owned
by Cleveland Skinker of Wash
ington, took the second race at
$3.50 to put the finishing
touches on the $27.20 payoff
collected by hackers of five and