view raw text
Tom Fool Starts at Aqueduct Today Goes in Dash After Passing Rumson at Monmouth Park GreentreeColt Has Heap Big* Chief, True Pattern, Hitex To Beat in Return to Races AQUEDUCT, L. I., N. Y., June 25.— Greentree Stables Tom Fool, who was entered in the Rumson Handicap at Monmouth today, is passing up that engagement because of a damp track and will start his comeback in the 0,000 Rippey Handicap at Aqueduct tomorrow. This is an overnight event at six furlongs and has attracted a field of nine, with the 1951 juvenile champion being asked to concede from six to 24 pounds to his rivals. Despite his 126-pound impost, Tom Fool looms a short-priced favorite and a probable winner, as he has been training in fine style for several weeks. Tom Fool won the Belmont Futurity and East View Stakes for his last two starts as a two-year-old and picked up where he left off by winning a six-furlong sprint at Jamaica early in April. He came back in the Wood Memorial and was narrowly beaten by Master Fiddle, fighting on courageously after seeming about to be decisively trounced at the eighth pole. That night, Tom Fool ran a high fever and he coughed for several weeks, evidently a victim o" a virus which was undoubtedly present in his system when he raced in the Wood. Atkinson to Ride Incidentally, Tom Fool was widely rumored to be unsound prior to his 1952 debut, probably because he bore out badly in several of his works. It was eventually discovered that this habit was in no way due to any infirmity, real or potential, and it was rather quickly cured. Ted Atkinson, of course, will ride tomorrow. Tom Fools chief rivals tomorrow appear to be Mrs. Ben F. Whitakers Hitex, 120; C. H. Johannsen, Jr.s, Heap Big Chief and A. G. Vanderbilts Whither, 113 each, and Woolford Farms True Pattern, 107. Hitex was narrowly beaten by Golden Gloves and Quiet Step in the Shevlin at a mile and a sixteenth last week, setting a fast pace for more than six furlongs. He also turned in some speedy races at Belmont Park. Heap Big Chief finished a respectable third to the older Delegate and Sheilas Reward at six furlongs on June 13 and also raced well at Belmont. True Pattern, another speed horse, showed unsuspected courage in winning his last from Trick Pilot at Belmont Park, being under a drive most of the way. Conn McCreary will ride True Pattern, while no jockeys have been assigned to Heap Big Chief or Hitex. Eric Guerin will ride Whither, while Ray York will be on his stablemate, Color Guard. Whithers last was poor, but he occasionally comes up with a good race and the Vanderbilt Stable is in fine form. Color Guard showed little in his recent return to action, finishing behind two of tomorrows field, Ray C. Stari-tas Giorgetti and Ogden Phipps ancestor in a race won by Raes Reward. Five in Forget Hurdle Handicap The field for the Rippey is completed by M. F. Drinkhouses Duke Fanelli, the lightweight of the field with 102 pounds, and who has been training well, but racing poorly. The 0,000 Forget Handicap, richest of the hedge events at the meeting, will also be renewed at about two miles tomorrow. Though this event has attracted a small field of five, it promises to be a thriller, all of the quintet being in good form and having adequate credentials. Daniel Saints Byng and Mrs. G. H. "Pete" Bostwicks Hyvania are equal top weights with 152 pounds each, while Esther duPont Weirs Clive of India has 148, while Mrs. Henry Obres Coup de Vite gets in with 144 and Allison Sterns Salemaker is the lightweight with 136. Coup de Vite and Sale-maker will be coupled in the wagering. Byng comes off two impressive victories. In the Aqueduct Maiden Hurdle, he beat Coup de Vite five lengths, receiving four pounds, a shift of a dozen pounds in favor of the latter. Byng won much as he pleased, however. Before that, the French horse won easily at Belmont Park, but turned in a dubious saliva sample.