ost the
simultaneous cry from 18,000 throats proclaimed the fact that the big
race was on.

Shilling pushed Worth into the lead, and the big brown son of Knight of
the Thistle went about his work in a determined manner. He needed no
urging to keep him in front and ran straight and true under the clever
guidance of his rider. Free Lance cut across at the start and took the
second position, laying back of Worth about a length, although Wheelwright
breaking first, did not get to going right away. Sonada broke well, with
Duval only a short distance back. Guaranola was a couple of lengths behind
soon after they got to going, with Flamma bringing up in the rear, the
filly having been caught unawares. Shilling took no chances with the
Hallenbeck colt, but held him right to his knitting, coming down the
stretch for the first time.

Passing the wire, Worth was easily a length and a half to the good of Free
Lance, which was laying back in a contending position at all times. A
length back of Free Lance, hugging the rail, came Sonada, which was only a
head in front of Duval. Wheelwright followed Duval, being three lengths
back of him. Guaranola was two lengths in front of Flamma, which gives an
idea of the poor start gotten by the filly. Around the turn going into the
backstretch, Worth was still leading by his length and a half advantage.
Free Lance was still holding on, although half a length separated the
Alvescot colt from Guaranola, which had slipped up on the rail. Duval was
laying back in fourth place on the outside, being half a length in front
of Flamma, which had passed Sonada and Wheelwright. Sonada had dropped
into last place and Wheelwright was not much better, both of them running
neck and neck for the booby prize. It was plain to all that they were
outclassed and the crowd passed them up and centered all their attention
on the leaders. Away over on the far turn, those without glasses could
still distinguish that Worth was in the lead, although it was growing dark
fast. They also noticed that Duval had slipped upon the inside and was now
only a length behind the Hallenbeck champion. Flamma, on the outside, had
also passed Free Lance, and it was quite patent here that the Long colt
could not go the route, for Guaranola had also passed him. Sonada and
Wheelwright were trailing nearly ten lengths back. Worth still held his
advantage turning into the stretch, but Shilling was becoming nervous, for
he felt the colt was ti