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► - — ; Color Guard Speeds to Detroit Surprise in Boots and Saddle Huntleys Lightly Weighted ♦ Horse Has Length Margin on Our Kite; 20,254 See Stake DETROIT RACE COURSE, Livonia, Mich., May 29. — William L. Huntleys Florida-owned Color Guard, smartly handled by jockey Lois Cook, sped to a surprising victory here this afternoon in the tenth running of the 0,000 Boots and Saddle Handicap before the largest crowd of the current Michigan season. Color Guard, a lightly-regarded five-year-old son of Occupy and Parade Girl, returned his straight pool backers 2.20 after reaching the finish of the one mile and one-sixteenth stake a length before William Salisburys Our Kite. R. A. Paracheks Gulf Stream earned the show award another length away and a length and one-half before Mrs. Joseph Tomlinsons favored and topweighted Chain Reaction, fourth in the field of seven Boots and Saddle starters. Color Guard, making his first appearance under silks since early in April at Gulf-stream Park, carried a feathery 104 pounds, which burden was 11 pounds less than that of Chain Reaction. Moving along steadily when set down through the stretch, the Huntley stallion raced the middle distance of the Boots and Saddle over the fast track in 1:45%. The largest crowd of the 1954 Michigan thoroughbred season turned out for the sporty 20,254 spectators taking advantage of the almost ideal weather. Scattered clouds drifted over the course during the balmy afternoon, but no rain fell. The Boots and Saddle marked Color Guards initial stakes success and he picked up ,480, the winners end of the 1,100 gross purse through his well-deserved triumph. Chain Reaction Flatters Supporters Chain Reaction flattered his supporters v/hen he took command at the start and raced to the quarter-mile marker with a short lead over Jerry Lynchs Raintree. Color Guard was well placed during, the earlier furlongs as Cook steadied the Huntley stallion along in clever style while Chain Reaction was, taken off the leaders and he was no better than third as the leaders swept into the home lane. Color Guard then forged to the front when hard urged while Chain Reaction made a final and futile bid near the furlong pole before chucking it. The diminutive Cook then worked vigorously on the ultimate winner, his mount responding with a burst of speed, which was ample to repulse a game challenge from Our Kite, who came from fourth place at the last bend. Gulf Stream closed determinedly to garner third honors and the Parachek colt was not under strong pressure to salvage that portion of the spoils, from the faltering Chain Reaction. William E. Britts Aces Wired, a well-conformed son of Fighting Fox and Blue Petal, scored his second success of the current meeting, defeating seven other useful three-year-olds in the Dearborn Purse.
