Sleeper Wakes

Only the law of averages was in his favor: old Texas Sandman had never won a major race. The one moment in his life was the time two years ago when he finished second in a big race. Last week his trainer bravely entered him in the $50,000 added San Carlos Handicap, at California's million-dollar Santa Anita track. Among the 17 other horses in the race were Elizabeth Arden's proud Knockdown, and a swift horse named Buzfuz, recently flown in from Miami.

Texas Sandman broke out of the starting gate like a hobby horse, next to last. Then, for reasons known only to himself, the Sandman awoke. First, he gained ground on the inside, then he tried the outside. Buzfuz was quitting, and the pacesetter, Fighting Frank, did not appear to have much fight left. In the stretch, Texas Sandman took the lead, wobbled a bit toward the rail, but brazened it out to win first place and $45,150. For a six-year-old, that was pretty good: almost 180 times his $250 purchase price as a yearling. A $2 win ticket on him was worth $111.90.

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