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Assault in Impressive Dixie Triumph Whips Rico Monte | With Stretch Rush Sets Stage for King Ranch Double as But Why Not Is Victress in Pimlico Oaks PIMLICO. Baltimore, Md., May 9.— King Ranchs champion Assault vaulted past Armed in his quest for leading money-winning honors here today when he captured the forty-third Dixie Handicap to earn 4,700 and swell his fabulous all-time earnings to 98,470. The four-year-old son of Bold Venture and Igual, voted "Horse of the Year" for 1946, now stands third behind Whirlaway and Stymie on the list of top money-winners. Hardly had the echo of the cheers for Assault grown still when the stable fired its second barrel of the chilly afternoon This came in the very next race when the racjMooking bay filly But Why Not, led for one mile and a sixteenth to carry the King Ranch silks a mildly surprising victory in the 0,000 Pimlico Oaks, for three-year-old fillies. Cosmic Missile was second and Oberod third. Returning to the scene of two important triumphs as a three-year-old, Assault, superbly rated by Eddie Arcaro, assumed the lead from Natchez a sixteenth of a mile from home and drew out in the closing strides to win by a half-length with Arnold Hangers Rico Monte, who had wrested command momentarily at the furling pole, earning runner-up honors an additional three lengths clear of R. N. Ryans Talon, a stablemate. Following these three at the end of the mile and three-sixteenths were Mrs. Wal- ter M. Jeffords Natchez, fourth; Assaults stablemate, Flash Burn, fifth; K. A. OConnors Statesman, sixth, and Christiana Stables Alexis, seventh and last. This Dixie running was staged on a May day that was so unprecedently cold that headlines in the local papers carried the terse message, "Cold Damages Maryland Fruit Crops. A pre-Preakness day throng of 19.660 witnessed Assaults vastly popular triumph, the frigid but wildly enthusiastic throng backing the "Champ" and his stablemate into odds-on favoritism. The King Ranch entry paid .80, with the Ryan-Hanger entry of Rico Monte and Talon paying .20 to place. Although there were only five interests represented in the Dixie field, show betting was conducted on the race, with the Maryland Jockey Club absorbing a ,724 deficit as the result of a minus show pool. Shouldering topweight of 129 pounds, the superbly-trained Assault, who had captured last years Preakness and Pimlico Special over the historical Pimlico course, was timed the one mile and three-sixteenths in 1:57%, a commendable effort, considering his steadying burden and the fact that the Pimlico track has been on the slow side this meeting. With Alexis, Natchez, and finally, Rico Monte, all having a hand in the early pace, the fractions for the race were 23% :47%. 1:12. and 1:38. With Assault and Arcaro the cynosure of all eyes in the unsaddling ring, Mrs. Robert J. Kleberg, wife of the owner of the famed King Ranch, accepted the handsome Dixie trophy from Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, a director of the host organization. Trainer Max Hirsch was present also, and his extreme pleasure at the fine performance of his illustrious colt was reflected in the wide smile he wore. Assault now has won his only two starts of 1947 and the manner in which he came on to catch his formidable Dixie rivals indicates the handsome bay colt will cut a wide swathe in the handicap ranks this year. The start of the Dixie was effected without delay and the field was off in good order, with Assault breaking alertly, but taken under restraint immediately by Arcaro to permit Alexis, on the rail, to lead the chase past the noisy stand. Entering the backstreteh, Alexis was still in command, with Natchez under steadying restraint while pressing the pacemaker. Assault was fifth at this juncture, with Arcaro artfully remaining on the outside to avoid trouble. Approaching the far turn, Natchez moved up to displace the determined Alexis, with Rico Monte, Plash Burn and Assault beginning to lodge their charges. Natchez was under extreme pressure to maintain a head advantage over Rico Monte rounding the turn and into the stretch, and it was just before the furlong pole that Rico Monte responded impressively to wrest the lead. Assault, still on the outside, was under full sail at this juncture and he came on relentlessly under a hand ride to peg the leaders at the sixteenth pole. Natchez fell back steadily in the last desperate charge, and Rico Monte experienced little trouble in gaining place honors.
