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BENNETT CREECH— Sent out Be Brief for a winning effort at Homewood. i . Sir Bim Accorded Edge in Princeton Veteran Rice Sprinter Faces Eleven Rivals at Washington Play Hands, Rousing Night, Siddons Sure to Cut Figure In Lincoln Fields Feature WASHINGTON PARK, Homewood, 111., May 18. — Mrs. Ada L. Rices Sir Bim, an old favorite with Illinois turf patrons, who doesnt by any means retain the blistering speed that made him a stakes winner in 1945, but who still possesses enough class and foot to defeat f air-to-middlin claiming company, makes his initial start of the season here tomorrow afternoon. The royally bred son of Bimelech — Airegla, by Bubbling Over, who was bred at the late Col. E. R. Bradleys famed Idle Hour Stock Farm, faces a band of 11 ,500 platers in the Princeton Purse, a dash of six furlongs, and, because of his previous form shown in this sector, he probably will rule the public choice. The seven-year-old has been idle since April 9 at Jamaica when he was an even money favorite against a field similar to that in the Princeton. He showed a good turn of early speed, but tired in the drive and finished fourth. Shortly thereafter he was sent to this track for a short freshen-ing-up period. Yesterday morning he was asked for speed in a five-furlong training test and he completed the distance in 1:01%, after stepping the half in :48%. Slated to face the Rice colorbearer are Plymouth Stables Lyds Boy, Mrs. Helen Hydes Equate, Meadow Acres Farms Bill-cella, G. W. Jones Big Casino, Mrs. J. L. Chesneys Play Hands, D. C. Wilhelms Rousing Night, J. McElroys Vesuvio, Wool-ford Farms Maijo, J. Truett, Jr.s, Flying Louise, Mrs. Lydia Webers Siddons and Paul L. Kelleys Bimont. Formerly Owned by Don Ameche Early in his career, Sir Bim was owned by the cinema star, Don Ameche, who saw his colorbearer win the San Felipe of 1945 at Santa Anita. Mrs. Rice acquired him shortly thereafter and since then has seen •him win numerous overnight handicaps and allowance races. Last season, Sir Bim accounted for a quartet of his 13 starts and this year he has faced the barrier only three times without winning. He gets in the Princeton under 112 pounds, which adds considerably to his chances, for usually he is allotted heavier imposts. Play Hands showed a couple of excellent races at Sportsmans Park before shipping to this South Side course. The eight-year-old mare finished third to Dad and Henny Penny in her last start at seven-eighths of a mile. She cut out a rapid early pace and did not relinquish her advantage until well in the short Sportsmans stretch. That race brought together ,000 to 0,000 competitors, and, consequently, she is dropping down slightly in class for this engagement. Rousing Night, a four-year-old daughter of Man ONight — Arousement, by St. Germans, was sparingly campaigned at Sportsmans while being given a special prep for the local Lincoln Fields session. During the Oaklawn meeting, he displayed a high flight of speed and on one occasion soundly trounced a field of allowance horses at three-quarters of a mile. Many believe Siddons is capable of taking top money. The gelding showed one of the most impressive performances of the season in his last start at Sportsmans Park. He almost bolted on two of the turns and -lost enough ground that ordinarily would have spelled defeat for any horse of his class. However, he kept plugging along after suffering these disadvantages, and at the finish he was a half length ahead of his nearest foe, Blue Agent. The five-year-old gelding won several races during the winter at the Fair Grounds and now it seems that he is back in tip-top racing trim. In spite of a heavy downpour of rain this morning, the entries were well filled and closed shortly after the regular time. Gen-* eral manager Peter ODonnell reports that several hundred horses are due here during the next couple of days from Kentucky, and by the time the sport settles into stride next week, filling the entries hardly will present a problem and racing secretary Lawrence C. Bogenschutz probably will be in a position to offer numerous "class" events on mid-week programs. Of course, the Saturday and holiday stakes will take care of themselves.
