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Sheilas Reward Tops Apache Sextet ll TPiet, Tea-Maker Among His Rivals Trio of Best Sprinters in America Making Seasonal Debuts at Jamaica Course JAMAICA, L. I., N. Y., April 30.— Three of the best sprinters in America have chosen tomorrows six-furlong Apache Handicap for their return to competition after a winters rest. Mrs. Louis Lazares Sheilas Reward, Mrs. Stephen C. Clark, Jr.s Tea -Maker and P. A. Markeys Piet, all prominent candidates for the Toboggan on opening day at Belmont Park, are the highweights in the Jamaica feature, named in honor of a very fast thoroughbred who campaigned not so long ago in the Belair . Stud colors, and their encounter will add I considerable interest to an otherwise off- ; day session. i Racing secretary John B. Campbell, bas-. ing his weights on this trios fine races last , season, has assigned Sheilas Reward, 124 [ pounds in the Apache, while Tea -Maker . gets in with 121 and Piet will carry 120. . The other starters in this sprint are Sagit-, tarius 108 and Red Camelia and Cacicque, I each with 102. Ted Atkinson will ride | Sheilas Reward and Con Errico will be up on Sagittarius. Boys for the remaining en-j tries have not yet been assigned. ■ Chosen Sprinter of Year Sheilas Reward may not have possessed as much pure speed as the unfortunate ! . Calif ornian, Your Host, but he was, nevertheless, the best specialist at the shorter distances of this generation, In Daily Racing Forms poll last fall, was chosen "Sprinter of the Year." Trainer Eugene Jacobs charge won eight of 17 starts. Perhaps his most notable victory was scored over the Jamaica oval last July, when he defeated the Greentree pair, Guillotine and Capot, to take the Fleetwing in a dazzling 1:09%. That six furlongs set the present track record for Jamaica, and, considering that Sheilas Reward was conceding a pound to Guillotine, stands out as a remarkable performance. It is understood that Mrs. Lazares colt has wintered well. His last prep for this outing was a handy six furlongs in 1:14. Tea-Maker, winner of seven of his 14 starts in 1950, his victories including the Vosburgh Handicap at Belmont Park, was just as consistent as Sheilas Reward, and Mrs. Clarks versatile eight-year-old Only One gelding has no limitations as far as the distance of his races is concerned. Tea-Maker is good at any distance, but his sharpest efforts have been at under a mile and his connections now concentrate on that type Of events. Like Sheilas Reward, Tea-Maker is quick to leave the gate and races right with the pace. It takes a keen sprinter to stay with this pair, and, " when both are at their peak, you can pretty [ well take your pick, and racing luck will 5 determine the issue. Nothing is known concerning Tea-Makers recent works, but * ■ trainer "Dolly" Byers would hardly send . him out were he not fit and ready. • Won Five Races Last Year j y For several seasons, Piet was considered strictly a sprinter, but trainer Frank Kearns found last year that the chestnut 1 Grand Slam stallion could handle a route r , in top company, and many of his best 1950 j races were at the longer distances. Among his five victories last season, however, was " the seven-furlong Bay Shore Handicap at Aqueduct, and he raced well in the Vos- I burgh Handicap, beaten less than two lengths by Tea-Maker and More Sun and conceded this pair appreciable weight. ■ Since Kearns has stretched out the dis-s tance demanded of Piet, the stallion has " lost his former early speed, and the sharp Jj turns and short stretch at Jamaica hardly suit him in a sprint as well as the long s Aqueduct home stretch or the Widener fc chute at Belmont. Piet will be closing U strongly at the end of tomorrows Apache, s but it is doubtful if he will be up in time r- to catch Sheilas Reward or Tea-Maker. ■ Sagittarius, Cacique and Red Camelia -• all have occasional good performances to e their credit, but they are in deep water here. Red Camelia looks to be in fine form now, and this race will serve as a tightener i for her engagement in Saturdays Firenze i Handicap, o
