Evening star., 1961-03-26
Conestoga Pays $50 in Campbell Upset;
Senators Win 81, on Stevens 2 Homers
April Skies I'd
After Falling
In Stretch
BY JOSEPH b. KELLY
Star Racing Editor

StaT rtdCAhB EuAtoE
Conestoga, a A year old
colt purchased for 100000 last
fall by Marylander Bruce S.
Campbell, caught April Skies
in the stretch to win the $11S,-
$50 John B. Campbell Handicap
by three quarters of a length at
Bowie yesterday.
Although he had won his last
start on the grass in Gulf
stream Parks Green Valley
Handicap last week, ConeStoga
was brushed off by the disap-
pointing turnout Of 18,075 and
paid $30.6O, 1920 and $40.
1t was the biggest upset in
eight runnings of the mile-and-
a-sixteenth race.
Finishing third, three lengths
behind jerome Derenzo's April
Skies, was the Cain Hoy Stables
All Hands. Sidney M. Barton'S
Greek Star saved fourth and
the Washington-owned Don
Poggio, slight favorite in the
15-horse field. was fifth in the
silks Of GuStave Ring.
The winner was clocked in
1:4525, the second slowest time
for the race.
Always in Contention
Conestoga was faultlessly
ridden by a little known jockey.
Roy L. Gilbert, one Of 18 chill
dren from London, Tenn. Gil
bert was never worse than sec
ond with Conestoga and waited
until April Skies, with Herbie
Hinojosa aboard, swung slight
ly wide at the top of the stretch.
Then the winner made his bid
along the rail.
It was the second straight
year that a son of Rough N
Tumble, a stallion which stands
at Campbell'S Ocala farm in
Florida, accounted for the
Campbell. The Maryland-brsd
Yes You Will won Maryland's
iricheSt handicap race last year.
Conestoga carried the light
weight of Ill pounds, some Is
less than Don Poggio's. April
Skies, part of an entry with
d Silky Satin, returned $3.50 and
: $4.40 as the second choice, and
All Hands, a 7-to-1 shot, paid
t $6.40 to show.
Winner Earns $76,S92
: The 4-year-old Conestoga,
o who ran for c. Mahlon Kline
t most of his racing career,
5. earned a $76,992.59 winners
, share for Campbell, a retired
road-building executive from
Lutherville, Md, who now de-
votes his time to breeding and
, racing thoroughbreds.
: Although two gates were
a needed to accommodate the
e races record field, starter Eddie
d Blind got it away perfectly.
i April Skies, who won five stakes
a in Florida this season, took
command Immediately after
: breaking from the No. 10 spot.
: Conestoga, who came out Of
h the fourth stall, was sent right
a after the Sprinter and that was
= the order around the clubhouse
: turn, with All Hands third. Don
Poggio and the King Ranch's
n Disperse were well back as ex-
# pected.
n There was little change down
the backstretch and into the
!, turn as far as the pacesetters
o were concerned. April Skies,
q g carrying 100 pounds, was in
{ charge with ConeStoga a close
. second and All Hands third.
40 &C Don Poggio began improving
20 his position from 18th but never
appeared a real threat.
g April Skies Drifts Out
IISs At the top of the stretch,
g April Skies drifted slightly wide
y and Gilbert Immediately took
advantage Of the break, moving
SO to the rail. With just an eighth
:, OF a mile to go, April Skies held
e on grudgingly by a head, but
10 Conestoga was inching forward
8 After taking the lead, Cones
1 toga increased his advantage
slowly through the final yards
The anticipated stretch battle
81 with Don Poggio and Disperse
in the thick of it, failed to de-
Sl ssi velop. At no time was either 9
1 threat. In fact, Greek Star helC
Z a four-length bulge over Dor
4 Poggio at the wire.
3 After Don Poggio, it wa
= Babu, Disperse, Road House
fS See ROWIE Paga C.7