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Spring Grove Visits Winner s Circle Gets Home Clear Of War Command R. Roy McClarins Homebred Under Drive at Pimlico to Capture Belvedere Purse By PALMER HEAGERTY Staff Correspondent PIMLICO, Baltimore, Md., May 12. Engaging the leaders from the outside on the final turn, R. Roy McClarins Spring Grove possessed enough late speed to wrest command and- outfinish Brookmeade Stables War Command by a length and a half in the featured Belvedere Purse here this afternoon. In third position, two and one-half lengths farther back, was Samuel A. Pecks Potpourri, with another gap of- two lengths back to Filpo Baldis favored Dinner Winner. Overhead conditions were satisfactory for the days sport and the racing surface was termed fast, although very much on the dead side, just as it has been for the past several days. Spring Grove, under Joe Regalbuto, was timed in 1:46 for the mile and a sixteenth of the Belvedere and rewarded his backers in the crowd of 10,904 with a 3.40 mutuel. Spring Grove, a four-year-old Charing Cross colt, was second behind first Aid in Bowies Southern Maryland Handicap but more recently turned in a dull effort over the Pimlico turf course. Such footing, evidently, is not to his liking, for he again displayed capabilities this afternoon while moving from just off the pace of War Command. Saves Ground Throughout War Command was in front from soon after the start of the feature and saved ground throughout while being nicely rated by apprentice Roger Conlon. The Brookmeade team turned back a mild challenge by Dinner Winner along the backstretch, then disposed of the choice once and for all turning for home. Spring Grove, however, was not as easy to handle and proved gamer than War Command through the final furlong. Favorite , players had very little with which to be pleased during the program and it was not until the sixth race that they were able to make it to the pay-off window, Mrs. A. K. Eklofs Tape Reader making good for them at .00. The route-running son of Market Wise, under Bill Balzaretti, wore down Ella K. Brysons game Red and Yellow by a neck while being caught in 1:48. for a mile and a sixteenth. Third position was filled by Henry H. Hechts Bigdome, who was left to represent his owner alone when Girder was withdrawn. The first in a series of three Old Hilltop handicaps was offered as the fifth race and the. winner was E. B. Towns ynds Bone Dry, who was scoring his third successive victory, having won for ,000 and ,500 in his last two appearances. Alfred Roberts Little Greg was second to the .80 winner, with M. Tyson Gilpins TJnsinatus, third. Bone Dry completed a consecutive triple for jockey Eldon Nelson, Bowies leading rider having won the third race with Alice I. Sturdys Two Lumps and the fourth race with J. A. Gangis Captain Storm. The latter paid .20, while Two Lumps was a .40 chance.
