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Arcaro Assigned Mount on Assault, Guerin Will Ride Natchez in Dixie T Rico Monte Is Scheduled To Make First 1947 Start In Pimlico Race Tomorrow PIMLICO, Baltimore, Md., May 7.— Possibly the most surprising developments in regard to Fridays 0,000 Dixie Handicap were the announcements that jockeys Eddie Arcaro and Eric Guerin would ride King Ranchs Assault and Mrs. Walter M. Jeffords Natchez, respectively. When Assault won last Saturdays Grey Lag under Warren Mehrtens, it was taken for granted that the Brooklyn lad would be astride the Bold Venture colt in Fridays mile and three-sixteenths Dixie. However, trainer Max Hirsch has decided to again take advantage of the availability of Arcaro, who guided Assault to such an impressive score over this track last fall in the Pimlico Special. Once again reiterating that this action in no way alters his high opinion of Mehrtens, trainer Hirsch, none the less, feels that Arcaro is more capable of handling this particular horse. During the winter when his string was in Columbia, SC, Hirsch stated that, in his personal opinion, Mehrtens is one of the most competent reinsmen in the country, but apparently has lost his touch with Assault, this despite the fact that last spring the Assault-Mehrtens combine beat all-comers in the three-year-old division while annexing the "Triple Crown" races. The announcement that Eric Guerin, who won the Derby with a high-calibre performance, would be astride Natchez in the Dixie, also was unexpected. While Guerin rode the Johnstown — Creole Maid colt in his Harford Handicap victory, it was Albert Snider who rode a masterful race to get Natchez home in front in the Edward Burke Handicap. Sniders ride in the Burke was one of the outstanding saddle exhibitions seen in the state this spring. Scheduled to make his first start of the year in the Dixie is Arnold Hangers Rico Monte, a five-year-old South American, who was bred by Juan Annovelli. While earning 4,520 last season, Rico Monte scored his most impressive race over this track, winning the Pimlico Cup Handicap. He had trained well for racing in Florida this winter, but was placed on the sidelines due to an unusual mishap which affected his foot. While many of the prominent Dixie eligibles have been declared non-starters by their handlers, probably due to the presence of Assault, the race still shapes up as an extremely interesting affair. Remaining as probables for the race are: Turbine, from the estate of Mrs. H. Lebo-witz, Richard Ryans Talon, Shamrock Stables Westminster, Kenneth OConnors Statesman, and Christiana Stables Alexis.
