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COLONY BOY — The highest-priced yearling of the 1944 sales makes his debut in todays Belmont Park opening event. Nine to Seek Appleton Steeplechase; Colony Boy Makes Racing Debut Today Maine Chances 6,000 Yearling Purchase Goes In Belmont Park Opener ELMONT, L. I., N. Y., June 11.— The twenty-fourth running of the Charles L. Appleton Steeplechase heads tomorrows program at Belmont Park. This about two miles contest over a dozen obstacles has 1 drawn a field of nine experienced jumpers 1 and could conceivably supply a considerably more enjoyable spectacle than any of the steeplechasing exhibitions seen here ! thus far in 1945. The sport has been at i what is politely known as a low ebb here ! this year, with capable jumpers falling for t no visible reason and small fields prevailing. The Appleton field is headed by Kent Millers Elkridge, who will be coupled with War Battle. Elkridge, who is to carry 158 pounds, is generally regarded as one of the two or three best chasers in the land, and generally runs well when fresh. This will be his seasonal debut. The experienced J. S. Harrison is slated to ride. War Battle gets in with 135 pounds, and no rider has been assigned. The others in the Appleton are Mrs. F. A. Clarks Royal Archer, 154; Thomas T. Motts Floating Isle, 149; Mrs. D. P. Barretts Abidale and Brookmeade Stables Gay Venture, 144; Mrs. Clarks Chesapeake. 1142; W. H. Lipscombs Mercator, 139. and C Mahlon Klines Merpolis, 132. Perhaps the highlight of tomorrows program at the Westchester Racing Associations huge course will be the scheduled debut of Maine Chance Farms Colony Boy. This son of Eight Thirty — Heritage was the top dollar in last years yearling sales, bringing 6,000, and he is entered for the first time in the opening event, a four and one-half furlongs dash on the Widener course. Colony Boy, who will be saddled by Tom Smitn. is sure to be the "cynosure of all eyes." While a jinx seems to attach itself to yearlings who top the annual sales, this fellow worked impressively at Santa Anita before coming here and is the property of a stable that can seem to do no wrong with juveniles. Mrs. Elizabeth Graham, owner of Maine Chance Farm, paid approximately 00,000 for yearlings last year and nearly all of those who have already started have won, including the stakes-winning filly Beaugay. The latter, at 2,000, was the highest-priced filly in the auctions and, at this moment, has the highest speed of the youngsters of her sex. While there are several other juveniles in this dash who are well regarded by their connections, notably Stargazer, who raced well here recently, Colony Boy is sure to be a short-priced favorite. Tom Smith will probably saddle another favored juvenile in the Anecdote Purse, which is fourth on the program, in the person of Harveys Pal, an impressive winner at Jamaica. This fellow will be opposed by Grandpa Max, winner of his two starts one of them under the name of Easy Spell*; the Belair Stud pair of Hippodrome and Johnstowns Kid; the recent winner, Islam Prince, Liquidator. Pondshen and Darby Darius. The latter was a surprise winner in his first start, paying 60 and raced like a good one. There are also a pair of allowance dashes j at six furlongs, both styled the Eastport, that have drawn nine candidates in each section. This affair is designed for three-year-old colts and geldings of no great distinction. Longchamps Farm may have the favorite in both divisions in Bright Scholar and Bill Hardey who have been racing encouragingly.
