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Spartan Spartan Valor Valor in in Equipoise; Equipoise; Monmouth Monmouth Attracts Attracts Quintet Quintet County Delight Has 124 Pounds to Tote Rokeby Ace Gives Weight to One Hitter, Combat Boots, Three Rings and Joey Boy By WILLIAM C. PHILLIPS Staff Correspondent MONMOUTH PARK, Oceanport, N. J., June 27. An astonishingly small field of only five starters will share in the division of 5,000 added money in the Monmouth Handicap here tomorrow. The sixteenth renewal of this mile and a quarter fixture, which has been one of the most important events at this seaside course since its modern inception in 1946, will be headed by Rokeby Stables County Delight under 124 pounds. The Count Meet five-year-old is handicapped 10 pounds over his nearest rival, the Greentree Stables One Hitter, while his other opponents consist of Joseph Gavegnanos Joey Boy, 110; Mrs. E. L. Hopkins Three Ring, 110, and Putnam Stables Combat Boots, 108. Needless to say, all are expected to start. Racing secretary John Turner, Jr. was at a loss to explain why the field is -so small, and contributed it mostly to luck. Luck, indeed, for those who are entered, with all but one assured some portion of the purse. Although lacking in size, the Monmouth should be closely contested and a true-run race. The track is in much better shape than during the early days of the meeting and it will be fast. Boulmetis Gets Riding Assignment County Delight, after a rather slow start this season, appears to have reached peak form and will be favored in the betting. Beginning his campaign in April, County Delight competed unsuccessfully in the Excelsior and Dixie handicaps, finished second in an allowance -affair at Delaware Park, won the Queens County Handicap at Continued on Page "Three Only Five Acceptances In Monmouth Handicap County Delight Gives One Hitter Ten Pounds in 5,000 Feature Continued from Page One Aqueduct and last week finished a creditable third behind Out Point and To Market in the Edgemere. He has undeniable class, last year winning the Gallant Fox, Dixie, Merchants and Citizens and Manhattan " handicaps; and his rivals will have to step right along if they expect to beat him tomorrow. Jockey Sammy Boulmetis will be in. the saddle for his first time aboard the Rokeby Stable stalwart. One Hitter also fell victim to To Market, finishing third back of him in the Massachusetts Handicap two weeks ago. Before that he beat the fast and consistent Crafty Admiral in the Suburban at Belmont, and earlier took a couple of thirds out of his six outings this year. He has been training in sparkling style for this engagement and he has often, come through with some brilliant performances when moderately weighted, as he is in the Monmouth. A point in fact were his victories over the vaunted Noor under light weights in New York a couple of seasons ago. Jockey Teddy Atkinson will come down from Aqueduct to have his usual mount astride One Hitter. It will be ah attempt for Atkinson, trainer John M. Gaver and the Greetnree tp emulate their success in the .Rumson, which they captured last Wednesday with Northern Star. Joey Boy, who has done nearly all of his racing right here in New Jersey, will have support from his victory in the mile and a furlong Omnibus Handicap over this course on June 18. Joey Boy has been holding his own with top-notch performers this season and in the Omnibus defeated Three Rings a neck and Combat Boots another three-quarters of a length. Both rivals profit by a three-pound concession from their recent conqueror and Three Rings should find a fast, firm surface which he likes best. Mrs. Hopkins veteran probably will be sent out to set the pace in an attempt to repeat the victory he scored in the Monmouth back in 1949 over Round View and Splash. However, Combat Boots might have won the Omnibus with a better ride, and he looms the biggest threat among these three, with two overnight handicaps triumphs at Belmont just before invading Jersey backing up his standing.
