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► — WILLIAM HELIS— Stable was in limelight yesterday at Garden State Park with trio of winners. Plumper Takes Measure of Mr. Ace 16,383 Attend Camden Opening Headley Gelding Is Almost Length on Top; Helis Stable Sends Out Three Winners GARDEN STATE PARK, Camden, N. J., May 3. — Hal Price Headleys Plumper, won the Tavistock at six furlongs, the best offering of the eight-race program which inaugurated the New Jersey racing season of 1949. At the finish as the apprentice, H, McGuigon, exerted pressure he wore down Mr. Ace, owned by William Helis and an odds-on choice in the test to earn the award by three-quarters of a length. In third place some three lengths back of the battling duo was Wickers Wish, racing for W. M. Wickham while Singing Doll and Red Herring finishing in that order rounded out the field. The winner was accorded extensive support and sped the distance in 1:12, an* exceptional performance. A gate count of 16,383 was reported from the admissions department on hand to welcome the return of racing and they displayed keen interest in the afternoons proceedings. From a racing standpoint William Helis, wealthy oil magnate, stole the show for three of his colorbearers proved successful in their respective engagements. He missed out in the featured offering when his Mr. Ace gave way to the final challenge of Plumper. The triple was shared by trainer Frank Catrone and jockey Jimmy Stout. A variety of weather and track conditions prevailed during the afternoon. The overhead conditions which this morning promised rain steadily cleared and the racing strip improved from slop to good to fast as the afternoon wore on. General Closing-Up at Turn The field for the Tavistock left the starting stalls in good alignment and Singing Doll and Red Herring were hustled to the front to cut out the pace while Mr. Ace, Wickers Wish and Plumper were never too far back to be looked upon as formidable factors. The two pacemakers held sway to the final bend. Then there was a general closing up and Mr. Ace moved up on the outside while Wickers Wish was sent through along the inner rail with Plumper circling the leaders on the extreme outside. In the brush through the final furlong. Plumper disposed of his opposition and steadily began to draw away while Mr. Ace had no trouble in fending off the last minute thrust from Wickers Wish.
