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Maxwell7McFarland Each Enter Duo at River Downs Former Holds Strong Hand With Just Abbe, Oklahoma Kid Today By K. E. HURLEY Staff Correspondent RIVER DOWNS, California, Ohio, June 18-— George McFarland and Pete Maxwell, veteran horsemen of the Ohio circuits, run head on into each other in a mile and a sixteenth allowance test for four-year-olds and upward, which headlines the off-day program at River Downs. Both trainers have named a pair of racers for the ,300 purse with Maxwell having the stronger duo in Just Abbe and Oklahoma Kid, which race under the colors of his wife. McFarland has named Frisky Jimmy and Mad Cord, and these four will be faced by Mrs. R. A.Warrens Irish Game, C. Mailens Kenwood, Oder and Greens Montcalm, W. Ruffs Rita Dugan and J. Rigneys Shirley Jeff. Maxwell has placed his charges very astutely, which is one of the reasons that he ended up as leading trainer, at Ascot Park and is currently leading the training brigade at River Downs. Both Just Abbe and Oklahoma Kid have been winners over the local track and either could take down the honors alone. Oklahoma Kid gets in the race with 115, which is three less than his compadre, so Maxwell may decide to scratch one of his charges overnight. This is likely since Luis Rivera, Maxwells regular rider, has been named on both mounts. Oklahoma Kid has been a winner of his last two starts at Akron and here, and the gelded son of Alfred the Great— Courtly Lady is in peak form right now. McFarlands pair are not the only con- tention in the race, for Rita Dugan, Shirley Jeff and Montcalm are recent winners who have shown a liking for distance racing. Rita Dugan swept past a good field in a 12-furlong race in her last outing and will have Bobby Reeves again in the saddle. The Columbus youngster usually times Rita Dugans rush to perfection and she might wear down the Maxwell entrants with such a late move. Shirley Jeff is a speedy miss who failed in her last after an impressive win earlier. This filly is rather enigmatic, but if in a running mood, very difficult to catch. Racegoers in this sector are familiar with the French-bred Montcalm and his fine stretch-running technique. The overnight strategy of the race may be upset at the scratch boxes in the morning with all the trumps in the hands of Pete Maxwell, but he should not make the mistake of underplaying his hand for there are plenty of jokers in the deck of seven opponents who oppose him. I ! , ; , : 1 i .
