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4 Lonoke Flash Tops Five in Royal Oak Forrest Sophomore, Best Air And First Heir Clash; Open Detroit Card at 3:45 P. M. DETROIT, Mich., May 24. The 1952 Michigan thoroughbred racing season will go into its first full week here Monday and the Royal Oak Purse, a six furlongs condition race for three-year-olds, is to headline a well-balanced program.. Although miserable weather hampered yesterdays and todays cards at the spacious local oval, an air of optimism prevailed in the Michigan Racing Associations front office this morning, officials pointing out that attendance and mutuel handle for the initial program was exceedingly good, considering the prevailing heavy rains and "off" track conditions. The Royal Oak drew a small but quick field and Henry Forrests Lonoke Flash, a quick son of Occupation and Look h Cook, is the early favorite for the Monday feature. The Forrest gelding gets in the dash with 119 pounds, which burden is the same as that of James Paddocks -homebred colt, First Heir. Others named for the Royal Oak are Mrs. Lawrence Frys homebred filly, Best Air, 112 pounds, providing she is handled by an apprentice reinsman; Carl Grahams Sinn Fein, 116, and Rush Street, a member of .the William S. Miller and John Stelle establishment, completes the probable starting band and will race under 105 pounds. Lois Cook on Lonoke Flash Lois Gook who always is in the top ratlings at Michigan meetings, is to. handle Lonoke Flash in the Royal Oak, apprentice Ralph Galli will pilot Best Air while Tommy Barrow, another steady journeyman reins-man, is engaged for First Heir. At a late hour today no riders were named for Rush Street and Sinn Fein. Lonoke Flash, one of the best thoroughbreds in the Forrest establishment, hasnt been under silks since his Fleet Handicap conquest at Hot Springs last March 29, but he was worked nicely and is quite ready for his local debut. When thevOccupation-sired colt won the Fleet he carried 116 pounds over the Oaklawn Park course in 1:04, registering a new track record for five and one-half furlongs. Such fleet racers as Dry Summer, Nobility, Red Curtice, and Texas Coin, among others followed him to the wire as he coasted to a four and one-half lengths decision. Lonoke Flash also captured the Fort Springs Purse, defeating Free for Me, Ashland Stakes victress; Our Challenge, Cul-lerton, and several other shifty three-year-olds. The Forrest representative also was a good winner in five of his juvenile engagements before starting in his unbeaten 1952 campaign. First Heir Prefers Sprint Distances First Heir, a well-conformed colt, the get of Hierocles and Saraphara, was beaten off in the Louisiana Derby, but he prefers sprint distances, and displayed speed in several races. Winner in two of but seven outings as a juvenile, the Paddock representatives best performance this year was an easy triumph in the six-furlong Wave-land Purse at New Orleans in February, in which event he carried 117 pounds over a fast track in 1:12 Ys, reaching the wire with a five-length margin. In the band following the Paddock colt home were Diamond Jimmy, Air Service, Fancy Gent, Seven Trix, Pacific Bound and Contrary Jean. Best Air, a quick daughter of Best Seller and In the Air, certainly needs no introduction to Motor City racing followers. The Fry miss was something of a sensation here last year and she registered four victories while meeting the best of her. age division. In her initial start this year, Best Air was off tardily in the Jasmine Stakes at Hialeah and had no chance to get any part of the purse. Sinn Fein ran third in the six and one-half furlongs Shively Purse at Churchill Downs in his last appearance under colors but.previous to that engagement, he won a mile and one-sixteenth allowance race at Gulfstream Park. The Graham colt, who is by Bold Irishman, also scored in three of his juvenile outings, and he has worked nicely for his Detroit race course start. Rush Street, the get of Bernborough and Nurse Boss, was beaten off in the Shelby Park Purse at Churchill Downs May 2, after he had led his nine rivals for the initial half mile in that six and one-half furlongs test. An unusually strong colt over a muddy track, Rush Streeet beat a fair field at the Derby oval last autumn, and he has worked fairly well since, arrival from Louisville. N Post time for the initial event on the Monday bill is 3:45 p. m. and the racing, according to a Michigan Racing Commission mandate, must be completed not later than 6:30 p. m.
