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P. J. PRENDERGAST — Irelands leading trainer, expresses confidence that The Pie King will go on following his score on Tuesday. The Pie King to Seek 00,000 Garden State Bell and Johnstons Irish-Bred Juvenile Won Stake at Ascot LOS ANGELES, Calif., June 17.— Ell-wood B. Johnston, co-owner with Ray Bell of The Pie King, who yesterday won the Coventry Stakes from the best juveniles in England before Queen Elizabeth IL at the Royal Ascot meeting, informed a Daily Racing Form representative today that the two-year-old Irish-bred son of The Solicitor would be sent to the United States in time for the 00,000 added Garden State stakes in October. The,, Pie King, named for Johnston, a Los Angeles pastry magnate, was picked out of the Irish yearling sales, last year by Ray Bell, who also "discovered" Windy City IL Bell, knowing that Johnston, his life-time friend, had always been eager to get another colt from Whirling Dun, the dam of The Pie King, gave Johnston the chance to purchase half of the colt and this half -interest was quickly snapped up. Johnstons desire for a Whirling Dun colt stemmed back to when he owned the fleet Jury Box, a son of Fair Trial and Whirling Dun who set a mile and sixteenth record at Caliente tinder 130 pounds at the time racing was blacked out in the States during the war. The Solicitor being a son of Fair Trial makes The Pie King a very close relative to the ill-fated Jury Box who later broke a leg while romping in a paddock. The Johnstons, who have owned Ruth Lily, Old English and some other good ones, insist Jury Box was in a class by himself. Trainer Prendergast, Irelands perennial leader, contends that The Pie King is at least the equal of Windy City H„ and he firmly believes the colt will go on. Jockey Billie Pearson, who exercised the colt in Ireland a few months ago, is also sold on him — and advises Johnston to "hold on to this one." Johnston didnt know if the colt was engaged in the Gimcrack or not, but if he is, Ray Bell, the ex-cowboy, faces the prospect of having to deliver another Gimcrack speech next December in England. He was the honored speaker two years ago when Windy pity II., won this historic event. The Pie King, who had .swept all before him in England, still had to make believers out of the English, which he did at the fairly sizable odds of 7 to 1. Ray Bell is expected backJn the States in a day or two with a more detailed account, of what future plans are being mapped out for the colt.
