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Chicagoan Purse Brings Out Cid Play [Creech Sprinter Has Eight Rivals Rangy Son of Maedic Has Finished in Money in Each Of Three Hawthorne Starts HAWTHORNE, Cicero, 111., June 13.— Veteran observers who bemoaned prospects for a wretched racing strip here for he remainder of the week after the heavy downpours of the last two days, were astonished late this morning at the "healing" qualities of the course, and when it became apparent that fast footing would prevail, continued good weather permitting, local horsemen swarmed into the racing secretarys office to get their last cracks at the purse offerings before the meeting closes Saturday. Thus, tomorrows program is surprisingly well-filled with several races of appealing quality slated to be decided. Most attractive to the eye of the discriminating turf pundits seems to be the fifth number, which will be known as the Chicagoan Purse. This is a dash for three-year-olds at six and one-half furlongs who have never won ,450 other than maiden or claiming, and an interesting field of nine sophomores are booked to vie for top honors. Mrs. A. M. Creechs Cid Play, who ducked yesterdays muddy racing strip, is among the favored entrants in the sprint, and if the going remains fast he is considered a certain starter. This gangling gelded son of Maedic — Imperial Play has been something of a puzzle since he started his 1946 campaign early in the spring at Oaklawn Park. Most of his races have been splendid, although on occasions he has been a bitter disappointment to his connections. In his first start at this meeting he was a fast-moving third to the classy Mighty Story, who later captured the 5,000 added Francis S. Pea-body Memorial, but in his next start when big things were expected of him as a result of his previous fine effort, he failed utterly against the speedy The Dude and was beaten some 10 lengths at the finish. Second in Arkansas Derby He came back with another smart race just the other day, running Eternal Reward to a head and easily beating such competitors as Superwolf, Disdomo, Leida, Valleys Pal, and others. His finest effort of the year was in the Arkansas Derby, when he finished second to Bob Murphy. While Cid Play seems to be definitely the horse most likely to succeed in the race, the selecting of the probable contention is no easy task. The Walmac Farms Great Plains showed a promising effort in the lone start of his career when he impressively trimmed a field of promising three-year-olds and it has been hinted about that he is a "good un." A smart-looking son of Omaha — Unmasked, Great Plains was away slowly but once he got to rolling he picked up his rivals nicely and was drawing away fast at the end. Another who is in the peak of form is Loachapoka, owned by the Dee B. Stable. This gelded son of Jean Valjean was the easiest kind of winner on June 1, but prior to that his form was hardly worth noting. It may be that he is exclusively a mud-runner, for his winning performance was made on a rough racing strip. Against Great Plains in a previous outing he was far in the rear at the finish. The Brown Hotel Stables Pie Man didnt show much in a race the other day against the clever Warf and Sweet Girlie, but he likes this track and "has enough speed to make his presence felt. He broke his maiden here in handy fashion and followed that race with a keen test against Goblin, to whom he finished second after waging a hot battle. The F. W. Hooper stable, which has been uncovering many fine running horses at this meeting, will be represented by a newcomer named Barval. This colt last raced at Churchill Downs and Keeneland and has on occasions revealed fine speed. In some quarters he is regarded as a sleeper. Rounding out the field will be P. J. Valentis Seamans Pal, who appears to have staled off after showing one particularly clever race against Mighty Story; B. Finkes Leida, who displayed fancy foot but tired in the race where Cid Play finished second; W. H. Bishops Overseas, a claiming horse, who occasionally shows speed; and C. D. Gilkeys Pilateer, who is moving up several notches after a good race recently.
