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Speed Handicap to Head Centennial Opening Card Vermont II. and Abbey Chimes Among Probables for Event CENTENNIAL PARK, Littleton, Colo., June 25. — The opening day feature at Centennial Park on Saturday will be the ,500 Speed Handicap, for three-year-olds and upward over the five-furlong distance. The fastest horses on the grounds are expected to go postward. Already a number have turned in works which have had the local clocking staff looking at their watches. Vermont n., holder of the local six furlong record has turned in several top works during the past week, the best being a five-furlong trial in 1:00% under steady restraint throughout. Another likely candidate Is the Columbine Stables Abbey Chimes. The fleet daughter of Kings Abbey was away from the races since last fall but her manner of working clearly indicates that she will be ready for a hard-hitting performance at the first asking. The fleet Kings Abbey miss turned in a sparkling five-eighths in :59%, under snug restraint. The best work to date, however, as a prep for the opening day headliner was turned in by J. J. Mikels Propitious who blazed five furlongs in :59 flat. The former stakes performer Pub, now owned and trained by Bob Zumwalt of Phoenix, Ariz., went a handy five-eighths from the gate in 1:00% to show his readiness for the Speed Handicap. Pub incidentally has been competing during the winter season , against the top Quarter Horses in Arizona. The big chestnut turned in four straight winning efforts against the "short" horses in Arizona. In his most re- cent start he set a new worlds record for ! three furlongs according to the American Quarter Horse Association when he sped three furlongs at Rillito Park in Tucson in :33. Racing Secretary Ivan Thomas expects a full field to go postward in the Speed Handicap. Nominations for the opening day attraction will close Thursday, June 28, with weight and declarations to be made the following morning. Thomas incidentally will be at Centennial immediately after the close of the current Portland Meadows meeting at which he is now serving as Racing Secretary. In addition to acting as Racing Secretary at Centennial Park, the youthful official will also act as Associate Steward.
