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Eight Classy Pacers Go In Free-for-AII Feature Athlone Ruler; and Direct Sun Match Speed at Sportsmans SPORTSMANS PARK, Cicero, 111., June 27. One of the best fields of pacers to be assembled in an overnight event will battle it out for the ,500 free for all pace at Sportsmans Park tomorrow night. The two top choices are Athlone Ruler and Direct Sun, who luckily drew the inside posts. Athlone Ruler, owned by Philo Hammond of Stockton, Kas., will be mak-ink his first start of the year in the Chicago area. However, in his last two starts at Louisville, he was second in 2:06, which will probably be good enough to win Saturdays pace. Direct Sun made his first start at May-wood last week and was second in 2:05 to Battle Prince. Don Busse will pilot the classy little four -year-old. , Other outstanding pacers entered in the Cicero feature include Goose Island, Scottish Boy, Chief Mite, Gallant Song, Grattan Truax and Ladys Leon. Grattan Truax has hit the form he showed at this time last season. The veteran sulky star won eight straight at Aurora and Sportsmans in the beginning of the year and went on to post 13 victories. However, trainer-driver Tommy Mills reports the horse shows signs of rounding into shape and might pop with his real form any night. His record is 2:01, which puts his in the class with the great horses of the nation. Gallant Song, courageous little five-year-old, piloted by Gene Riegle, is also expected to break out in a sweat of speed some night soon. He finished second to Royal Blackstone in the 5,000 Sportsmans Pace last year and went on to win more than a dozen races in the Chicago area and roll up more than 2,000 in earnings for 1951. Sportsmans leads off -with a stake event Saturday in the first race, a ,000 added trot stake.- Bright Comet, Peter Campbell and Cliff Win top the eight horse field. A field of 12 trotters goes after the ,500 added trot stake in the seventh race, with Fay Scott going after her third victory of the still young meeting. The Sunny Hill Stables star surprised everyone on opening night by capturing the trot stake with a 2.00 mutuel. When the fans thought it was a fluke ,she went off at 9-1 in the second heat and came back to win and return another 0.20 mutuel. Fay Scott, who will be piloted by Glen Campbell, will get most of her competition from Gold Dust Chief, Hal Tass, Cady Song and Rangoon! Edgar Leonard took a long lead in the drivers standings by capturing a triple-header on the Thursday program to give him seven victories in five nights. Slrangely, Leonard has mostly colts and fillies in his stable, but continues to pile up victories. He won 16 of 67 starts at Maywood and looks like a cinch to be among the top drivers at- Sportsmans, although he will miss part of the meeting because of Grand Circuit commitments.
