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Cranwood Sprinters Seek Van Aiken Center Purse Poised Valley, Gay Larkspur and Harpeth Clash at Four Furlongs CRANWOOD PARK, Warrensville Heights, Ohio, June 16.— The Van Aiken Center Purse, for three-year-olds and older to match strides at one-half mile, headlines the well balanced program to be presented here tomorrow afternoon. If a fast track prevails, a new track record may be established. The record is now shared by Vermont Son and Valley Doctor, both having reeled off the half in :47%. Wayne Kendricks homebred Poised Valley, a good looking daughter of Equistone, was defeated by Vermont Son in her last engagement over the local track by the scantest of noses. In that race, as usual. Poised Valley grabbed the lead soon after the start, bore out at the head of the stretch and after being straightened away by Jockey Eddie Plesa held on tenaciously, but was not quite equal to the task. It was the first time this season that Poised Valley had run wide on any turn and trainer W. W. Smith probably has corrected that failing since that race. Another of his charges, Valley Doctor, ran wide in his first race here this year and yesterday came back and hugging the rail throughout and won with plenty left. E. Davis* Harpeth, a four-year-old chestnut colt, by Petrose, will be starting for the first time in the Cleveland area this summer. Thand colt has been idle since the seventh of February at Sunshine Park when he was fifth beaten almost three length by Cecil M. Before meeting defeat the colt had won two straight races at the Tampa track, both in allowance company. Probably the best race Harpeth has run in the past year was at Hazel Park last fall when at six panels over a fast track he beat Little Flame by 10 lengths with a speed rating of 92. Joe Levines Gay Larkspur won his only race over _the track when under a nice ride by "Chico" Mora the gelding lasted over As Ordered going six furlongs. Gay Larkspur grabbed the lead at once and after saving ground throughout held sway in an impressive move. Gay Larkspur is by Blue Larkspur and was bred by Mrs. W. Plunkett Stewart. Great Northern Stables Lundi is always dangerous in a sprint and if he were not forced wide by Poised Valley the other afternoon might have won that race instead of winding up third. He was only beaten a length for all the money and certainly took the worst of it. That was Lundis first start of 1953. Last season he was a winner twice in 14 starts, his best races having been tallied at Waterford Park. The remainder of the field is composed of Brass Hat, Golden Tempest, Oh Linda, and Embers. Of these E. L. Lovelaces Gay Larkspur would have to be accorded the best chances of a winning effort. Embers wound up fourth here the other afternoon and had several good races at Ascot Park.
