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Kratz Guides Middletoe Home First at Ascot Whips Ginogretta Half Length; Hoovers Fire Flight Triumphs By RONALD KRANCER Staff Correspondent ASCOT PARK, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, May 19. — J. Zaleskis Middletoe, given an excellent ride by Freddie Kratz, won a hard earned half-length decision over Ginogretta in one of the better races here this afternoon. The four-year-old Psychic filly is trained by Jimmy Simpson and was winning her second straight race over this track. Middletoe was somewhat overlooked in the wagering and paid a tidy 4.80 in running the four and one-half furlongs dash in :58% over a track charted as being heavy. Middletoe broke second in this event, but soon fell back into fourth position in the run down the backs tr etch while between horses. At the quarter, the ultimate winner was two and a half lengths off the early pace being set by F. M. Ashbys speedy, but fainthearted, On Rush. On the stretch turn, Kratz went to the whip and guided Middletoe to the position near the rail and at the head of the stretch moved to within a half length of On Rust, who still was holding on but was getting very tired. Through the late stretch, with Middletoe still saving ground, Flying Beam ranged up on the outside, looming very dangerously, and Ginogretta was moving up between horses with a fine closing rally. In the final 70 yards, however, -Middletoe started to draw clear, with Kratz staging one of his finest exhibitions. It was the seventh winner of the meeting saddled by the popular Virginian and he now ranks as one of the leading conditioners here at Ascot Park. Father and son hooked up to win a tight nose decision in the fourth race. Fire Flight, owned by C. Hoover and nicely ridden by his son, Donald, came through on the inside all the way to gain a narrow nose verdict over Blocky B. at the end of the six and one-half furlongs. Fire Flight showed an excellent closing lick in his last race over the track and did not let his followers down today. At one time in the race the ultimate winner was nine and a half lengths off the pace being set by Blocky B. Fire Flight was winning his first race of the year and paid 0.80 as the third choice of the crowd. Time for the race was 1:30. I. G. Davies Troubled Sea, ridden by Willie Clark, came home in front with a length margin over Little Foxy at the end of the four and one-half furlongs opener. Troubled Sea. aiter racing in the first flight from the outset, disposed of Little Foxy in the final sixteenth of a mile to draw clear under energetic handling. The winner was overlooked in the wagering and returned 4.60, running the dash in :51%. The second race went to the second choice Little Zac, who was ridden by Lowell Thomas McKnight. Little Zac just did get home after tiring badly in the late stretch. No Delay was second and Ladies Day showed. A .40 mutuel was hung on the board for the winner, who ran the six and one-half furlongs in 1:29, flat. The combination of Troubled Sea and Little Zac was good for a Double return of 9.20.
