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Vagabond Vagabond King King Takes Takes Downs Downs Sprint; Sprint; 55,000 55,000 in in Stakes Stakes at at Hawthorne Hawthorne HOWARD WELLS Saddled Vagabond King for his winning performance in the Eastern Parkway Purse at the Churchill Downs course. Returns to Races In Excellent Form Eyer Bright Gives Way to Walmac Homebred in Drive; Permane Boots Home Triple By DON FAIR Staff Correspondent CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 12. Walmac Farms Vagabond King, a four-year-old homebred colt, the get of Alibhai and Glass Slipper, began his 1954 campaign in impressive fashion here this balmy af ternoon, earning a gamely-achieved victory in the Eastern Parkway Purse. Finishing strongly under jockey Arnold Kirk-lands clever guidance, Vagabond King reached the wire with a length and one-half advantage over Pollard and Harkins Ever Bright, pacemaker for the major portion of the six-furlong trip. Mrs. Herbert Herff s favored Smackover ran third, a half length off Ever Bright and slightly more than a length before Emil Denemarks Fu-turamatic, fourth in the field of 10 quick Eastern Parkway starters. Vagabond King, who hadnt been under silks since last November, shouldered 113 pounds and raced the three-quarters mile in 1:11 over the fast track. Lightly-regarded by the majority of the 8,000 on hand for the sport, the Walmac colt went to the post at 83-to-10. Eyt Bright Sets Pace Ever Bright had the highest speed away from the stalls, but she was closely attended during the run to the stretch by J. H. Dunns Oh Leo, while Vagabond King raced in third position within striking distance of the leader. Oh Leo was first to chuck it as the top trio entered the home lane and Futuramatic then moved up with a bold challenge, while Vagabond King held to fourth position on the extreme outside. Young Johnny Ralph Adams, who had the mount on Ever Bright, kept right after her during the drive to the wire and, although closing in determined style, she could not repulse Vagabond King, bowing to the victor in the last sixteenth. Smack-over came from fifth at the final turn to garner the show award, while Futuramatic dropped back to fourth, a neck before Keene Gurnees Peu-a-Peu. A. B. Karles Tyner, a homebred Busy-ridge-sired gelding, romped to an easy decision in the one-mile fourth, downing a half-dozen other three-year-olds. Sent to the front early by jockey Bobby Permane, Tyner entered the stretch with a good lead, then drew out to a six-lengths accounting over Golden Maxim Stables fa- . vored Dania. Another length away, South-Continued on Page Fiye Vagabond King Registers Upset in Churchill Sprint Leads Ever Bright, Smackover To Wire; Permane Rides Triple Continued from Page One land Stables Major Event finished third and Brown Hotel Stables Wise Billing was along for fourth. Tyner, who made his racing debut last week, won his second purse in as many starts, stepping the eight furlongs in 1:38 to win with speed in reserve. Second choice to Dania in the wagering, the victor went off at 17 to 5. Jockey Bobby Permane handled his third winning mount of the matinee, scoring with Buddah Stables Locks in the eight-furlong fifth. Permanes mount was a 29-to-10 choice. S. G. Babbitz Armed Truce, a gelded son of Challenge Me. and Cotton Candy, graduated from the maiden ranks in the five-furlong third race, defeating 11 other two-year-olds. Ridden out through the stretch by jockey Johnny Heckmann, the Babbitz youngster reached the final marker with three and one-half lengths to spare over Mrs. M. H. Hunters Sowega. Etta B. Mc-Atees Challenge Witt ran third after a rough journey. Frank Zids Docility, handled by Bobby Permane, beat a capacity band of cheap sprinters in the six-furlong initial offering and Al Wellmans Royal Bones, smartly ridden by Douglas Dodson, scored in the three-quarter mile second over another full field of ordinary platers.
