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Ferd Ferd Easily Easily Best Best in in Swift Swift Stakes; Stakes; Middleground Middleground Begins Begins Journey Journey East East jSchuttinger Colt Withers Hopeful Arcaro Guides Victor Home Clear of Sheilas Reward in Popular Belmont Accounting By BOB HORWOOD BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., May 8. — Mrs. Andy Schuttingers Ferd earned a chance to start in Saturdays 5,000 Withers Mille and picked up ,350 on the way, when he came from far back to win the 49th running of the Swift Stakes today. The homebred son of Loch-invar coasted to the end of the seven furlongs two and a half lengths before Mrs. Louis Lazares outsider, Sheilas Reward, who led Maine Chance Farms Admirals Pride another half length. James Cox Bradys pacemaking Starecase was only a head out of the money. Eddie Arcaro rode Ferd for his first success of the day. The colt, who is eligible to the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, as well as the Withers, stepped the seven furlongs in 1:24% and paid .30 to his numerous followers in the crowd of 22,959. The weather was clear and sunny, but decidedly chilly. Favorite players were warmed by better than an even break through the feature, four choices and a second choice finding their way to the winners circle. Starecase Assumes Command Starecase rushed to the front at the start of the Swift and opened up several lengths on Curtain Raiser and Sheilas Reward, who raced head and head, while daylight before Suleiman in the run down the far side. Selector and Admirals Pride were close at hand, followed by Ferd. Nearing the far turn, Starecase continued to lead, but by only a little more than a length over Curtain Raiser, who was joined by Sheilas Reward, Admirals Pride moved into fourth place on the outside and Ferd began to work his way forward between horses. Curtain Raiser began to tire between the turns and Admirals Pride moved into second place as Starecase continued to lead, but was beginning to shorten stride, though saving ground on the rail, and Sheilas Re-.ward was also racing strongly. Admirals Pride went wide at the final bend and Sheilas Reward moved up to be almost level with Starecase, while Ferd went right with the Reaping Reward colt. Once they were straightened away, Ferd drew out with authority and crossed the wire with speed in reserve. Sheilas Reward fought on gamely through the stretch, holding Admirals Pride safe, as the colt came on again at the end to outfinish Starecase after losing quite a lot of ground. None of the beaten horses in the Swift, in which all the starters carried 126 pounds, Continued on Page Four Ferd Proves Easily Best In Swift Stakes at Belmont Continued from Page One had any apparent .excuse, though Fabricate finished well to be fifth. Last year, Ferd won the Youthful Stakes at Jamaica and the Juvenile Stakes here, and finished second to Detective, conceding eight pounds, in the Albany Handicap at Saratoga. This year, he defeated Middle-ground in an overnight race and finished third to Hill Prince and the Derby winner in the Wood. The veteran Tom Smith showed that he has lost none of his skill when he brought Maine Chance Farms Myrtle Charm out in peak condition after being on the sidelines since the Futurity of 1948, to win the Action Purse with the greatest of east. The strapping daughter of Alsab — Crepe Myrtle took the lead soon after the Start of the six furlongs and merely cantered to the wire six and a half lengths before Jan Burkes Magic.Words, who was claimed from Maine Chance for 0,000 in April. King Ranchs Energetic finished almost a length away in third place and five lengths before William Ziegler, Jr.s Props. Glen Lasswell rode Myrtle Charm, who carried a feathery 108 pounds, including five pounds overweight and breezed the six furlongs in 1:11% after * t a quarter in :22% and a half in :45. The filly paid .80. Renown II., who was well-played, lost all chance when solidly bumped at the end of a furlong and knocked back to last place. There was nothing else to the race. Myrtle Charm merely coasting in front, with Magic Words giving futile chase and trying to bear out at the head of the stretch.
