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Abbottstown Faces Fast Opposition at Pimlico Has Oriole, Laran and Raise You To Beat in Pompoon Purse Today PIMLICO, Baltimore, Md., May 4— The featured Pompoon Purse stands out like a beacon tomorrow afternoon at Pimlico, for it is the only race on the program with even a semblance of class, all others on the card carrying either the maiden or .claiming clause. The six-furlong test has attracted Roy McClarins Abbottstown, Richard Carters Oriole, E. A. Nicodemus* Laran, Happy Hill Farms Raise You, Mrs, Elmer True-mans Send Off, Mrs. S. Smiths Blue. Holly and C. D. Bills Homing Pigeon. Abbottstown impresses as the most improved sprinter in this sector. He raced for ,500 last season and, after having been altered during the winter, opened his spring campaign with two consecutive victories, the first for ,500 and the second for 0,000. He turned in two more good races in top company, then was second to Rare Mineral last Saturday in the Baltimore Spring Purse, in which the winner was clocked in 1:11%. Abbottstown was beaten less than a length in that essay and a repeat of the performance would make him a stout contender in the Pompoon. He will have the services of a "hot" rider in apprentice Eddie Sanders. Oriole continues to disappoint in competition, his best moves being accomplished in the mornings duringtraining trials. His latest failure was in the Baltimore Spring, in which he finished fifth, three lengths behind the winner. A son of Swing and Sway, Oriole has shown signs of possessing a bit of class, but his only recommendation this season comes from a second to Magnet at Laurel in the track record time of 1:09%. "Moose" Peters is due from New Jersey to handle the saddle assignment. Laran, a stakes winner over this strip last season, has turned in two smart efforts in as many appearances an,d certainly rates consideration against tomorrows opposition. In his debut, Laran was beaten less than a length by Brick in 1:11and, then came back to finish three and a half lengths off Curandero. Local trials have been on the fast side and assure present fitness. The only other logical contender in the Pompoon is Raise You, and her recent form is none too impressive. While she has raced but once this season, and tired on that occasion, she failed to reach the winners circle in eight races last year. To delve even deeper into the records, one finds that she was a stakes -winner during her juvenile campaign and a return to winning form is not too much to anticipate. Send Off won his last start at the Graw, beating high-priced claimers while being timed in 1:12%. The Quatre Bras II. six-year-old manages to win his share of races each season, but more suitable spots are certain to come up at a later date. Blue Holly was beaten but three lengths by Music in his last start after having been claimed for ,000 in his only other start this season. Homing Pigeon will be making his first start since last fall, at which time he was haltered for ,500.
