Evening star., 1961-03-05
SuntuAnitu
Derby Turns
Into Thriller


ia Ranches entry made it a
wire-to-wire triumph today in
the $145, 100 Santa Anita Der
by, holding off q stretch chal-
lenge by Ronnie's Ace In .
rousing finish.
The arkable Johnny.
Longden, at 81 chalking up his
fifth victory in 20 tries in this
classic for 3-year-olds, got the
odds-on favorite in by three
quarters of a length over the
longshot Ronnie's Ace. Flut-
terby, the other half Of the
feared Alberta twosome, came
roaring in for third. 81
Langollen Farms Game fin
ished a close fourth in the field
of IA.
The time for the mile and
one-eighth was 1:4S flat, Sec
ond fastest time in the history
of this event.
.Olden Times Makes Bid
Rex C. Ellsworth's Olden
Times, after making a gallant
bid throughout most of the
mad dash around the track,
faded and finished seventh.
The sentimental favorite. C. v.
Whitney's Fun House, the lone
filly in the cast, came in last.
The skies still we're gloomy
and a misty fog curtained the
neighboring San Gabriel noun
tainS as the field went to the
post. Earlier it had rained and
for a time a muddy track ap-
peared in prospect. But the
rain held off aud the track
remained fast.
The race went pretty well
according to calculation - at
least the calculations Of old
folks Longden, who was scoring
his 5,499 victory in a saddle
career dating back to 1927.
Longden had the choice of
the Alberta colts and took
Four and Twenty.
Arcaro Almost Upsets
Eddie Arcaro had the other
colt, Flutterby, and almost up
set the Longden calculations.
Four-and- Twenty Is . Ken.
lucky colt, the son Of Blue
Prince. and this was not only
his fourth trip to the post but
also his fourth victory.
He won his only start late
last year and this was three
for three this year-and worth
$100.100 to the stable.
Alberta Ranches Of Calgary,
Canada. is q partnership be-
tween wealthy @. Max Bell and
Frank Mcmahon. both Of whom
were among the estimated 49,
500 persons at Santa Anita
Park today. ..>..
Arcaro got F1utterby out Of
the gate. fast from the rail
position. But Longden. from
the sixth berth. was out even
faster and quickly went into a
lead he never surrendered.
Shoemaker HustleS
The winner paid $40, $2.40
and $2.40; Ronnie's Ace, with
Alex MaeSe up in the silks of
Wilbur Clark and william Rad
kovich, paid $12.40 and $3.50,
and Flutterby paid $40 for
show. .
Jockey Willie Shoemaker, on
Olden Times, had a poor start
ing posMton-13 post. But he
hustled the colt into contention
by the time the pack hit the
club house bend. and 1t was
Four-and- Twenty and Olden
Times in the early skirmishes
down the back stretch.
At the far turn Olden Times
was out Of it. Arcaro had F1ut-
terby moving into contention.
Jockey Don Pierce on Cap
tain Fair took a run at Four
and-Twenty as they turned
toward the head Of the stretch,
and then up came Ronnie's Ace
to give trouble.
Jockey Johnny Rotz also got
into the picture on Game. But
there was no catching Four
and-Twenty as he wheeled on
in to win the first stakes of
his brief career.
All the colts carried 11S
pounds, the filly 113.
Four-and-Twenty is eligible
for the Kentucky Derby and
the Preakness and Belmont,
the other two gems Of the
Triple Crown of racing for the
3-year-old division.