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Gray Desert Topweight At 120 in Alton Purse Recent Churchill Winner Faces Six Rivals at Fairmount Park By C. A. LINDEMAN Staff Correspondent FAIRMOUNT PARK, Collinsville, 111., May 13. The Alton Purse, an allowance event, features the Friday night card and brings together seven fleet sprinters to vie at six furlongs. All named have had to start this year for a ,600 purse, or for a claiming price of ,000 or iess and not be the winner of more than one race, thus assuring a real competive race. The favorite is expected to be Gray Desert, recent winner at Churchill Downs. Gray Desert, owned by the R. S. Reynolds, Jr., stable, has two winning races to his credit thus far this season and draws top weight of 120 pounds for this test of six furlongs in the Alton Purse. The four-year-old son of Desert Ration has good speed away from the gate and with his good record should be able to handle a field of this calibre. Jockey J. N. Hardin-brook will ride the E. J. Gault-trained colt. Circles, from the Circle V J Farm, was a recent winner here. This speedy filly turned in an excellent performance over a track labelled good to win by four and one-half lengths over such top sprinters as Blinda and Baltana in 1:14.. The daughter of Alimeta had little trouble in disposing of her opposition after gaining the lead in the first half. The field for the Alton six-furlong dash will be rounded out with other top sprinters such as Crack Ice, Hand Salute, Miss Taggs, Classy Belle and Miss Mario. Pride of Judeau made good for owner J. Gaylord in his second start of the current meeting when he romped home two lengths in front to account for the Decatur Purse last Wednesday night. Jockey C. Corolla had a little trouble in getting his mount into best stride but once on the move steadily wore down the leaders in the final quarter. The four-year-old son of Seven Hearts took the lead a sixteenth out and then drew out to win all by himself. Red Rudolph from the racing stable of Al Tennis held on gamely in the final drive after having had the lead for a short distance midway of the stretch to save the place from Val Vex who closed fast to get the show end of the ,700 Decatur Purse. Mary H., the well-played favorite, had set the pace to midway of the far turn, then tired as if not ready for a race. Pride of Judea, slightly overlooked by the 5,300 on hand in. the cold weather, paid a 2.20 win mutuel and ran the six panels in 1:11 which saw the second fastest race of the nights races. The slim mid-week crowd sent 93,694 through the machines for the eight races. Trainer E. E. Major, Jr., checked in from Louisville, Ky with four head. Major will be stabled at the nearby Cahokia Downs.
