view raw text
; 4 Few Fleming Hopes Work for Feature Screemin Jack Breezes Three Furlongs; Race Brings Back Memories to Jake Lowenstein LINCOLN FIELDS, Crete, 111., June 2. Workouts on the muddy tracks at Lincoln Fields and Washington Park were on- the "light" side today. Most of the horses who did appear breezed only short distances. They included only one of the 31 nominees" for next Saturdays renewal of the Edward J. Fleming Memorial Handicap. This was Screemin Jack, one of the four Fleming candidates nominated by Mrs. Herbert Herff, of Memphis, Tenn. Trainer Jake Lowenstein had Screemin Jack breeze only three-eighths of a mile, which the six-year-old gray gelding did in :41 over the Crete track, which has been soaked by recent rains. The Fleming Handicap is a particularly attractive race for Lowenstein, although it was known as the Steger Handicap when he first became acquainted with it. That was in 1927, when he saddled the four-year-old gelding, Chicago, to win the race which had been established the year before and has continued as a fixture to the present time, except for two interruptions. As a four-year-old in 1927 Chicago was one of the best handicap horses in the country. He won numerous stakes that year, could both sprint and stay, one of his most notable successes being a victory over the great sprinter, Osmand. Name-Changed in 1950 As stated previously, the seven-furlong feature which will be renewed next Saturday was known formerly as the Steger Handicap. The name was changed in 1950 to honor the memory of the late Edward J. Fleming, president and principal owner of Lincoln Fields at the time of his death in 1949. Instead of establishing a new race, the club which he formerly headed gave I-.?.. 4- -C 4-1 , u;-U T 3 long been one of his favorites. It is a notable fact that the Fleming Steger Handicap never has resulted in a fluke victory in its previous twenty-two runnings. The race has not always been won by the favorite, but the winner always has been a good horse, and together with many which placed in this event, bore names long to be remembered. Lowenstein tried again for the Steger with Chicago in 1928, but was beaten back -to second by R. C. Stables four-year-old colt, Sankari, who was made the favorite despite the prestige of Chicago, who was owned by the late Fred Grabrier, Chicago real estate man. Lowensteins brother, Mose, was successful in 1929 when he sent out Leo Marks Misstep to beat the Grand mare Lady Broadcast, then a three-year-old, and Karl Eitel, also three, winner of the Fairmount Derby, one of the prominent races of that era. While Screemin Jack has been a good winner for Mrs. Herff, he is one of the least distinguished members of the quartet which Lowenstein has for the Fleming Handicap, the others being Smackover, Blue Award and the good filly, Mimi Mine. One of the outstanding features of the .upcoming Fleming Handicap is the probable meeting of the two top sprinters, Pomace and Sir Mango. Prior to 1937, when the race was won by Deliberator, one of the best sons of Wise Counsellor, the Steger was run at the distance of one mile.
