view raw text
► 1 1 i I * « i 1 ] * J « I , | | . I ■ Governors Stake Lures Sagittarius Invader From New York to Carry 126 in Suffolk Race; Larry Ellis, Caldwell Named By AVERY BROWN Staff Correspondent SUFFOLK DOWNS, East Boston, Mass., May 15. — The Governors Handicap, the first "pay to run" event on this years roster of Suffolk Downs stakes agenda, will have its eighteenth running tomorrow. The six-furlong fixture has attracted a dozen capable sprinters. Winding Way Farms Sagittarius, topweighted at 126 pounds, is already on the grounds after an uneventful van trip from New York and his appearance adds lustre to the 0,000 added dash. Pitted against the stakes-winning invader will be Mr. and Mrs. Jake Lingles Larry Ellis, 123; Henry A. Kimballs Alga-sir, 122; Ralph Lowes Pictus, 118; Jim Beatties Good Shot, 115; Putriment, Caval and Chmuras Little Step, 115; Mrs. J. M. Branhams Shadows Start, 114; Irving J. Whites High Head, 114; Olin Sledges Caldwell, 112; Mrs. A. Michaelides Shrewd, 112; Annalora and Tereses Nola Hash, 107 and J. G. Hills Our Dorie the lightweight at 104 pounds. Sagittarius, bred by Walter M. Jeffords, is a six-year-old son of Teddys Comet from the Man o War mare, War Regalia. While this may be his first appearance be-fore Massachusetts patrons, Sagittarius is not unknown to New Englanders. A couple of seasons back, the fleet sprinter accounted for a feature attraction at Narra-gansett Park. Won Bradley Handicap at Tropical The 1952 season proved a lean one for Sagittarius, who had to wait until last December at Tropical Park to pick up his lone stakes triumph in the E. R. Bradley Handicap. He did manage to earn 0,855, however, winning four overnight events in addition to the Bradley. Thus fas this year, Sagittarius has already overshadowed his earnings of last season, coming into tomorrows fray with earnings totaling 2,-710. That amount has been made in eight starts, three of which have been triumplis in handicaps. Five days after his score in the E. R. Bradley, the black stallion annexed the New Years Day Handicap at Tropical Park. Continued on Page Forty-Pour Sagittarius Tops Field For Governors Handicap Invader From New York Carries 126 Pounds in Suffolk Feature Continued from Page Three In the Hialeah Inaugural, won by Nimble Fox, Sagittarius was second and that ended his money-winning efforts of the recent Florida campaign. Returned to New York and freshened up for the current Metropolitan season, Sagittarius failed in his quest of the Paumonok Handicap but came back a week later to win an overnight handicap at Jamaica. That victory was repeated in the Jamaica Handicap at the expense of Tuscany, Delegate and Squared Away. The illustrious invader has started only once since the Jamaica Handicap and that resulted in a good fourth behind Tuscany, Hyphasis and Dark Peter in the Toboggan Handicap at Belmont Park. His margin of defeat was less than a length. Larry Ellis, who has been slow to get back to his winning form this season, will have the services of Tony DeSpirito tomorrow and that way rigged figures to be the most stern foe of the local sprinters. The Easy Mon gelding has been one of the prime favorites of New England fans for the past couple of seasons and he will not lack for support in the Governors Handicap. Regarded as one of the most versatile performers in the eastern handicap ranks, Larry Ellis usually runs a good race regardless of distance or track condition. Algasir, who was soundly beaten in his seasonal bow here a week ago, is expected to improve off that race, and should the Sir Gallahad in. gelding be at peak, his presence will be greatly felt throughout the six-panel test. The Kimball ace is seven years Old and throughout his seasons of racing he has never been guilty of turning in a poor effort, regardless of the caliber of his opponents. Probably the most improved member of the Governors field is Little Step. It was that son of Fighting Step who trounced Algasir in their last meeting and while most of the attention was focused on the Kimball geldings failure, the manner in which the chestnut stallion raced can not be overlooked. Bothered by unsound underpinnings last season, Little Step appears to be sound this year and his success may extend much greater before the current meeting is over. The Cinderella horse in the Governors is Caldwell. The gelded son of Hayride won for a ,000 claiming tag at Oaklawn Park this past spring and has moved up the class ladder gradually to earn him the right to meet tomorrows rivals. Since that score in the claiming ranks, Caldwell has won six out of seven starts, climaxed by a stirring triumph over Plus Fours, Good Shot and High Head last Tuesday.
