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► ; Ay/ait Meeting Of Grass Stars Frere Jacques and Pellicle Slated to Vie Next Week In Detroits Michigan Mile FAIR GROUNDS, Detroit, Mich., May 18. — The first of a series of four turf course races scheduled for presentation during the Michigan Racing Associations summer meeting is to have its decision her next Wednesday, May 25, when a crack field of grass track performers parades postward in the ,500 Michigan Mile. No less than 24 seasoned middle distance performers have been nominated for the race, which will be followed by the ,500 Wolverine Handicap, the ,500 St. Clair Handicap, and the 0,000 Belle Isle Handicap, all turf events, and designed for three-year-old and older thoroughbreds. The Michigan Mile probable starting band will be headed by Jacobs Shers Frere Jacques, a gelded son of Jack High and Tatanne, and Hal Price Headleys homebred star, Pellicle, a gelded son of Sir Dam-ion and Pelisse. Frere Jacques and Pellicle have shown unusual ability over the grass and the pair undoubtedly will come in for the major share of support when the Michigan Mile is contested next week. On last January 25 at Hialeah, Frere Jacques turned back a useful field in the one mile and one-sixteenth Ft. Dallas Handicap and then came back on February 2 to capture the 0,000 added Bouganvillea Handicap at the same course. In the Bouganvillea, the Sher gelding equaled the one mile and three-sixteenths turf course record at Hialeah, stepping that distance in 1:57% to turn back such formidable opposition as Anecdote, Friar Tuck, Peacelaw, Approval, and others of class. Frere Jacques also accounted for Arlingtons Grassland in 1946. Pellicle, who finished second in his latest start at Garden State Park in the Marlton Handicap at a mile and one-sixteenth, comes to the Fair Grounds with a better than average record. Pellicles most noted effort over the grass came about in 1947 when he won the 5,000 added Grassland Handicap at Arlington Park, running that one mile and three-sixteenths in 1:56 to whip Jack S. L., and Take Wing, among others. Beaten Narrowly by Papa Redbird Raymond Ankenbauers homebred Porters Broom, an old favorite with Detroit racing followers, is accorded an excellent chance to earn major honors in the Michigan Mile. Winner of 7,725 last season, Porters Broom began his 1949 local campaign in auspicious fashion, bowing by a short margin to the Arlington Classic victor, Papa Redbird, in the six furlongs Inaugural Day feature, the Curtain Up Handicap. Porters Broom established a new American turf course record here last year for one mile when he completed his journey over the grass in 1:36% to account for the Turf Handicap. Babs Damion, a homebred daughter of Sir Damion and Avachance, who races for Jay D. Weil, Inc., displayed ability over the turf at Hialeah before shipment north and captured two races there. On February 10, Babs Damion won over a mediocre field at a mile and one furlong and accomplished the task in such impressive fashion that trainer Morris Griner started her in the Palm Handicap and she won that event over Gustave Rings Lord Grillo, James Paddocks Blue Badge, E. E. Voynows Stud Poker and other useful grass strip racers, stepping the mile and one-sixteenth in 1:44%. Other outstanding thoroughbreds that may accept the issue in the Michigan Mile are Peter A. Markeys Piet, Miss Mary Fishers Shivaree, Sydney I. Crews Castel Beau, Mrs. Ellsworth H. Augustus Balmoral, and Seven League, Blue Badge, Jerry McCarthys Touch Control and P. L, Grissoms Almenow. While the four Detroit grass track stakes are occupying the attention of local turfmen, several overnight events also are listed for running over the turf course and are programmed in such a manner that they will serve as important preparatory events for the stakes. Other than the Michigan Mile next Wednesday, racing secretary Charles McLennan, also -will stage some top class supporting attractions. The ,500 Southfield Purse, six furlongs for three-year-olds, probably will bring out a clever field of sophomores while the ,500 St. Clair Purse, a mile and one-sixteenth for four-year-olds and upward, is quite likely to match a better-than-average band of seasoned middle distance performers.
