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Sgt. Sgt. Spence Spence in in Front-Running Front-Running Victory; Victory; Queens Queens County County Handicap Handicap to to Helioptic Helioptic Lets Dance Beaten Head in Poor Ride Odds-On Favorite in Small Field of Three at Belmont Weakly Ridden by Kirkland BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., June 3. — Only three horses went postward in the Queens County Handicap, 0,000 feature of the opening Aqueduct-at-Bel-mont program today, but the small field didnt make it any easier for the chalk players in the small crowd of 22,873. Neither did jockey Arnold Kirland, rider of Lets Dance, the 3-5 favorite, who seemed more intent on watching what Paul Miller was doing on Helioptic than riding his own mount, with the result that W. Goadby Loews colt beat him a head at the wire while Alison Peters was a distant third. Helioptic was second choice in the wagering and paid .40. There was no place or show tickets sold. Helioptic turned in the best race of his career as he ran the mile and a sixteenth in l:43y5,but there was considerable doubt by veteran observers that even that effort would have been good enough to win had Kirkland stuck to his knitting. Conn McCreary scored a triple when he piloted V. A. Sheskiers Quaker in the final number, to close with a rush and win a photo finish over Jule Finks Magellan, who had led all the way. Army March and Yankee Raider dead-heated for the show McCreary Stars The fare offered this afternoon was probably the dullest in some years, with a sorry field in the lucrative stakes offering and mediocrities contesting the other events. This was reflected in the light attendance despite good weather and the fact that Monday is usually a big day on New York tracks, and the equally light wagering. Only 18,235 was wagered on the Queens County, which in past years has been won by such good ones as Roam-er, Zev, King Saxon, Snark, War Admiral and First Fiddle. The sport opened with a surprise, when Twin oaks Farms Happy Forecast proved best of a bad lot at 1.30, while Apheim Stables Queens Chance was a successful "good thing" in the second number. The hurdle race that followed was marred by Continued on Page Three t 1 ! 5 5 I 5 - - * ■ 5 e " J ■ 0 l» s e s ■ II s * J ? * !j I | | j ] ; ; Helioptic Beats Lets Dance In Queens County Handicap Continued from Page One a bad start, in which binder was all but left, with Lieut. Well being a well-backed winner at .80. Irving Milbergs Blenco then beat the favored Sea Convoy in the fourth event, giving Conn McCreary, who had ridden Happy Forecast, a double. Alison Peters set out to steal the Queens County, Larney Hansman sending him to the front at the start, and quickly opening up a lead of a half dozen lengths over Lets Dance, who was followed by Helioptic. The pacemaker began to shorten stride at the head of the home lane and Lets Dance swept by on the outside, quickly dominating the situation as though he were home free. However, Kirkland and the Sunshine Stable gelding seemed unable to consolidate the situation. Helioptic, who cut the corner, drew level with Lets Dance just above the eighth pole, then drove on to win as Kirkland kept looking over at him, at gesture of utter futility. Alison Peters was utterly spent after setting a nimble pace for nearly a mile. Assaults kid brother, Clean Slate, was made a 3-5 choice in the fifth race, but was narrowly beaten by Jay Paleys I Will at the end of the five and a half furlongs dash down the Widener Course. Brook-meade Stables Gemsbok was a distant third back of the King Ranch colt. I Will, a son of Roman — Breathless, by Haste, who was making the second start of his career, was well supported and returned .70 after going the distance in 1:05. Will was fastest out of the gate in this dash, followed by Gemsbok and Clean Slate, with G. Ray close at hand. Half way down the chute, G. Ray showed in front ; momentarily, but was quickly passed by r Clean Slate and I Will. As they neared [ the wire, Warren Mehrtens was seen to glance over at I Will three times as though i trying to estimate how much effort was 5 needed to hold that one safe. The lad I evidently guessed wrong, for I Will was 5 a neck to the good at the wire as Tommy May never stopped pushing.
