Evening star., 1962-09-16
Mongo Upsets Elders in U. N.
I. Y. Lark
Beaten Off
In Duel
By JOSEPH b. KELLY
Star Racing Editor

Star Racing Editor
ATLANTIC CITY, N. j., Sept.
is. Mongo. the only 3-year-
old in the hand picked field, ran
the gamest race of his career
to turn back T.V. Lark, last
years Washington, D. c., Inter-
national victor by a neck in a
furious finish of the 100000
United Nations Handicap here
today.
Owned and bred by Mrs.
Marion dupont Scott, who op-
crates the famed Montpelier
Stable in Orange, Va, Mongo
pressed and set the pace for
nearly the entire mile and
three -sixteenthS Of the grass
classic and then had enough
stamina to hold off the late
charging T.V. Lark. who might
have won had the race been
several yards longer.
1t was a great day for Vir-
ginia horses at this seaside
course as Milton Ritzenberg's
Wise Ship, spent from his ef-
forts Of battling Mongo, fin
ished third, two lengths back
of T.V. Lark, owned. by q Ken
lucky syndicate headed by
Preston Madden Of Lexington,
KY.
Second Effort on Grass
Mongo. making only his Sec
ond start on grass-he won the
ventnor Handicap against lesser
competition by 10 lengths on
the turf here in August-was
ridden by veteran Jockey
Charlie Burr, who gave a fault
less performance.
The crowd Of IS, ,469-some-
what disappointing in view of
the summery weather and class
of the field-had trouble. as
expected, in sitting out the
favorite. Eventually the anna
teur handicappers made Wise
Ship, who shared top weight
of 1913 pounds with T.V. Lark
and Hitting Away, a tepid
choice at a surprising $500
to one.
Mongo's sparkling perform
ance last month was not en-
tirely discounted, and his happy
hackers collected $19.40, $11.40
and $500 across the board.
T.V. Lark, ridden by Cuban
born Avelino Gomez returned
$1,000 and $500 and Wise Ship.
81.
Virginia Maryland Celebration
When Mongo, who carried
lit pounds, returned to the
winners circle it set off a
combined Virginia Maryland
celebration. Mrs. Scott was on
hand to receive the United
Nations handicap trophy and
to congratulate her trainer,
Frank (Downey) Bonsal. The
latter is a veteran Of the East
ern racing circuit and in his
earlier days was an accom-
plished amateur rider, twice
winning the Maryland Hunt
Cup.
Bonsal's triumph with Mongo
marked the second straight
week end that a Maryland
based trainer carried off a
100000 prize here. Last Satur-
day j. Bowes Bond of Savage.
Md. won the Worlds Play
ground Stakes with Rambunc-
tious. Bonsal makes his home
in Glyndon, Md.
The field Of IL grass special
lists, broke evenly in this 10th
running Of the U. N. and Wise
Ship and Mongo immediately
began their scuffle for the lead.
Wise Ship, piloted by Helidoro
Cuisines rolled to the front at
the clubhouse turn but Mongo
was not far away although he
briefly dropped back to fourth
with Hitting Away and Windy
Sands moving into contention.
MOngO Rushes Up
Down the back stretch 1t was
a three-way battle as Mongo
rushed up again to the lead
and dueled with Wise Ship and
Hitting Away, part Of the Sum-
ny Jim Fitzsimmons entry with
Royal Record.
Three sixteenths of a mile
from home, Strengthened for
the wire. Mongo held grimly to
his head advantage over Hit
ting Away. Wise Ship was run
ming third. T. v. Lark, taking
the overland route was still
eighth at this point but flying
on the outside. Hitting Away
suddenly collapsed in the final
eighths to finish 10th but T. v.
Lark. sixth at the eighth pole,
passed all but Mongo in a per-
formance reminiscent of his
best races.
T. v. Lark's defeat was a
tough one as it would have
given the 5-year-old horse his
second victory in the United
Nations He won the classic
in 1860 beating, among others,
Sword Dancer and Ballyache.
Mongo ran the mile and
three sixteenth in 1.56 3/5 over
the dry grass course, two Sec
onds slower tan the course
record held by Glen, when
Glen upset Round Table in the
same race in 1858.
Mongo took home a purse of
$65,000 in registering the most
important victory of his career.
Plagued with an ankle injury
during his 2-year-old season,
Mongo was making only the
10th start of his life. Previous
efforts had cleaned only $685.