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Grand River Purse Brings Out Quintet Ferro Fox Competes With Donke Serenade, Aschol And Dixie Flyer at Detroit By DON FAIR Staff Correspondent DETROIT, Mich., June 19. — The Grand River Purse, a six-furlong sprint for four-year-olds and older, is to headline an at- , tractive program tomorrow at this mod- ; ern Michigan Racing Association, course. ] While only five entrants are slated to clash • in the mid-week feature, the members of the small field are rather evenly matched and good sport is in store for Motor City ; patrons. Along with the Grand River, racing secretary Charles McLennan and .the members of his staff arranged some good supporting numbers, one of the best of these being the three-quarters mile nightcap, which is to match an even dozen useful racers. Henry Forrests recently-acquired Ferro Fox is one of the early choices for the Grand River and will parade postward under 112 pounds, providing he is handled by an apprentice reinsman. Others named for the dash are J. O. Hewgleys Alschol, 114; Mrs. George C. Whites Dixie Flyer, 107; Joseph A. Goodwins Donke Serenade, 108, and Circle M Farms Countess Molly, 106 pounds. According to an announcement this morning by Forrest, the youthful Gerald Champagne, one of the best lightweight riders to appear here in several seasons, is to ride Ferro Fox. Darrell Madden, topping the present jockey standings at the local oval, will handle Donke Serenade, Jerry West drew the saddle engagement for Countess Molly, and Sherman Armstrong is scheduled to guide Dixie Flyer, Young George Walker may get the mount on Alschol. . Ran Third in Zenith Purse Donke Serenade, a homebred, four-year-old son of Balladier and Inundation, is expected to go rather well in the Grand River. The Goodwin colt finished third in the Zenith Purse at six furlongs on June 8, bowing to Suffki and Baby Comet, which dead-heated for major* honors. Donke Serenade was defeated by a length and one-half in the Zenith but, previous to transfer to Detroit, he ran second to Nicky W. in the Shut Out Purse at Churchill Downs and he also placed behind Yellmantown last autumn at the Derby track. Ferro Fox, former member of the White establishment, won his last local engagement; whipping Bolaris, Dogs Up,-United Nation, Alphara and Convicted in the Industrial City Purse at three-quarters mile. The Forrest gelding ran third to Is There and Alphara in his 1951 debut here May 30 . and he turned in several good performances during his three-year-old season last year. The sonof Fighting Fox and Toro Prodigy has trained satisfactorily and is rated dangerous in the Grand River field. Dixie Flyers best performance to date at Detroit was a close second to Old Tom in the Plymouth Purse. The White filly was only three-quarters of a length off the Plymouth victor at the wire and the race was run in a commendable 1:11%. Alschol was a surprising visitor to the local winners circle last week, beating an old stakes-winner, Kingarvie, at six fur-longss. Alschols rivals tomorrow, however, are a bit more classy and he would have to turn in. an improved effort to garner a ■ triumph in the Grand River. Countess Molly has a touch of class but it is doubtful whether she. has the speed to get any part of the Wednesday features 1 spoils. The Circle M fillys effort in the ■ Plymouth behind Old Tom and Dixie Flyer was good but she failed to race back to 1 that performance in the Zenith, winding up no better than fifth. R and H Stables Hot Chocolate, Mrs. A. ■ Kuhns Galena, Forrest Stables Cotton Joe 1 and Mrs. J. Rogers Texas-owned Texas Rain appear to hold the edge in the eighth 1 event. Galena, Hot Chocolate and Texas » Rain are winners during the current meeting • and probably will come in for the s strongest support. Others entered are Andrews • and Zakoors Wisenheimer, Richard L A. Connells Task, Niagara Stables Play r At, Fields and Walkers, Treada Boy, Jacob 1 Shers Our Yonkela, R. B. Walters Chic ! Bit, Robert Lancasters hard-hitting Raven 1 Reward, and Helen S.„ Reinemans Cedric.
