view raw text
Quartet Named to Face Sheilas Reward In Six-Furlong Happy Argo Handicap ; j ! • . • ■ 1 • 1 ; ; . i 1 ; 1 I I I ] I . 1 . Lazare Speedster Carries ♦ 126, Giving Delegate Eight; Nine Go in National Hurdle AQUEDUCT, L. I., N. Y., June 12.— The Aqueduct National Maiden Hurdle, a ,-l 000 stake at about a mile and three-quar-j ters, and the Happy Argo Handicap, a ,- 500 overnight event at six furlongs, are the feature attractions at Aqueduct tomorrow. A field of nine has been entered for the National Maiden, which is the second of three races, the first having been run at i Belmont, with the third to be offered at Saratoga. Daniel Saints Byng, a French [ four-year-old who was one of the better handicap horses in his native land and was converted to hurdles since coming to this country, is the probable choice here. The son of Fair Copy won two races at Bel-; mont Park, including his last in which he carried five pounds less than the 151 he ! packs tomorrow. Only five have been named for the Happy Argo, which is headed by Mrs. Louis I Lazares Sheilas Reward, a leading sprin- ter the past two seasons and who will be i making his 1952 debut under 126 pounds. Dave Gorman will ride the five-year-old son of Reaping Reward who has been training in fine style for his return to action. Sheilas Reward is asked to concede from eight to two dozen pounds to his four rivals, not an easy task, but far from impossible. Woolford Farms Delegate, a fast-finishing second to the much-improved First Glance in his last start at Belmont Park, has 118 pounds to carry. D. J. Schneiders Elixir, 105; C. H. Johannsen, Jr.s Heap Big Chief, 104, and Joe W. Browns Thelma Berger, 102. complete the field. Elixir Won at Belmont Park Elixir won his first start of the year at Belmont Park, after a long period on the sidelines. That was not a good race from a time standpoint, but the Woolford Farm cast-off is eligible to improve, having showed stakes quality in the past. Heap Big Chief was beaten more than two lengths by Delegate last out, but has five pounds in his favor and also was compelled to race in the deep going on the rail in that sprint, tiring quite naturally at the end. In his previous start, he beat Sub Fleet and others in a swiftly run seven furlongs. Thelma Berger has showed little this year and her best races have been over a distance of ground. Bill Boland will ride Delegate tomorrow, while Conn McCreary will steer Heap Big Chief, who should be the favorite, but probably will not be, while Hedley Wood-house will be on Elixir and Keith Stuart will guide Thelma Berger. To return to the National Maiden hurdle, Byng will be opposed by the James Mc-Hugh-Mary A. Rumsey entry of Reduce and Mantle, M. A. Cushmans Courtney, E. B. Schleys Golden Boy n., Mrs. Henry Obres Coup-de-Vite, Esther DuPont Weirs Royal Vale, Sanford Stud Farms Oneida and Mrs. R. N. Blackburns Stepfar. Mantle, who finished second to Byng in his last, will be ridden by William Galla-her, while Earl Phelps will pilot Reduce, who also has some good races to his credit. Coup-de-Vite broke badly in his last start and failed to threaten, but beat Mantle and Golden Boy II. in the Belmont National Maiden Hurdle in his previous start. Byng made his American debut in that race, but stopped badly, being obviously "short." Of the others, Royal Vale is making his local debut, but comes from a formidable i stable which makes a habit of winning • i • with newcomers. He will have the services of Pat Smithwick. Byng will be ridden by George Foot, his regular pilot.
