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Twenty Twenty Named Named for for Crete Crete Inaugural; Inaugural; Dark Dark Star Star Starts Starts in in Preakness Preakness Prep Prep Hawthorne Scene Of Lincoln Meeting Spur On Carries 118, Giving Royal Mustang Two Pounds In 0,000 Sprint Stake By J. J. MURPHY Staff Correspondent HAWTHORNE, Cicero, HI., May 16.— bulging band of 20 horses has been named take part in the 0,000 added Crete Inaugural Handicap, the first day of the Lincoln Fields meeting Monday. The field headed by B. W. Landys Spur On, who will carry highweight of 118 pounds, while regarded as his most formidable rival is Royal Mustang, from the Sam E. Wilson stable, who will tote 116. Others in the field for the Crete, which will be at six furlongs, are F. W. Hoopers Heliowise, Merle Mitchells Cross Ring, Steve Valentis Lilly Valenti, Marion Van-Bergs Cajac, Fairways Farms Recline, Sam Wilsons Jet Fleet, who will be coupled with Royal Mustang; P. J. McMullens Dry Run; Hasty House Farms Pomace; J. H. Nail, Jr.s Seventh Sun; Red Top Stables Stop Gap and Red Charger; William Hal Bishops Albemarle; R. R. Thomas Joe Graves; B. W. Landys Cullerton, who will be coupled with Spur On; J. J. Lombardos Whirla-head, and also Walmacs Gala Free, Reverie Knolls Mon-Pharo, and T. Knight, Jr.s Bay Brook. Third in 1952 Renewal Spur On, who was third to False and Joe Graves in the Crete Inaugural last year, has compiled an excellent record this season. He won his first start in an allowance race at the Fair Grounds on January 3, was then second to Happy Go Lucky and later defeated Shadows Start by seven lengths, and then Second Avenue by two lengths in winning the 0,000 Louisiana Handicap. He finished second to the greatly improved Smoke Screen in both the LeCompte Handicap and the Letellier Memorial, and came back in an overnight handicap to again trim Second Avenue. To date, this year, he has earned about twice as much as in his 16 starts in 1952. Royal Mustang made his first appearance this year at Keeneland, and was second to Old Mason. Then he won at seven furlongs as an even money favorite. He was then unplaced on a slow track at Churchill, but came back later to score by eight lengths over Inseparable, an old Chicago favorite. Jet Fleet, Royal Mustangs running mate, will be remembered as one of the most consistent horses in this territory last season. He won nine races in 16 starts. This year he has been successful six times in 10 starts, and has changed hands three times via the claiming route. As to the others, Heliowise started as favorite at Sportsmans Park and had diffi- Continued on Page Forty A to t a 1 is v r Is l ]- i i Dark Star Heads Sextet Seeking Preakness Prep Derby Winner Has Royal Bay Gem And Correspondent to Beat Today Continued from Page One Dark Star so beautifully in the Derby, is to have the mount on the Royal Gem II. colt in the Prep. Bobby Summers replaces Eddie Arcaro on Correspondent, whom he rode in West Coast engagements, and Jimmy Combest again has the mount on the stretch-running Royal Bay Gem. Tommy Barrow has been named for Country Gos-Charley Burr on Ram o War. In the draw Charley Burr on Ram o War. In the draw for post positions, Dark Star was somewhat compensated for his weight by gaining the rail. Royal Bay Gem drew into the No. 2 stall, with Correspondent just outside him. Both Dark Star and Correspondent have an abundance of early speed, and so incidentally has Ram o War, though he beat a hasty retreat after leading Dark Star for a furlong in the Derby Trial. Baltimores spring weather has been exceedingly unpredictable, but the going was fast when entries for the Prep and its seven supporting events were taken this morning. Ram o War breezed over it a half in :24, :36 and :49, by way of blowing out for Mondays feature. The card has an interesting secondary attraction in the introductory running of the Maryland Jockey Club Dinner Party Purse for two-year-olds. This five furlongs drew 14 more or less unfamiliar youngsters, but two-year-old races have been the medium of brisk play at Pimlico this spring. The owner or lessee of the winner will be guest of honor at dinner in the members club following the races Monday. Attendance and play at this point is "up" about 10 per cent, by comparison with last springs patronage, and with any luck in the weather the Prep will attract a crowd of near holiday dimensions. There is a theory, though it is not very popular, that Ram o War will better his Derby performance here at Pimlico, where he has been successful. Perhaps this Virginians chief claim to fame is his success in a "division of the Fountain of Youth Handicap last winter at Gulfstream Park. Country Gossip qualified for a chance in the Prep when he won an overnighter here earlier in the week. Darby Dans Lord Jeffery is the "dark horse" of the field. Lightly campaigned last season, he won two of four starts and is a son of the former Preakness winner Count Fleet. Correspondent made a muddy track look almost fast working for the Prep the other morning, when he was tabbed six furlongs in 1:14%, and trainer Wally Dunn is delighted with the way the Californian has done since coming to this point. Royal Bay Gems final for the Prep was a handy five furlongs in 1:03%. The hardy Constantin colt races rather than working and seems to thrive on it. Dark Star went a mile in 1:40 "and some change" just before vanning here to familiarize himself with the Preakness going.
