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Gunner Lad Goes At Omaha Today Champion of Ak-Sar-Bens 53 Meet to Engage Seven In Governors Handicap By J. R. BATTY Staff Correspondent AK-SAR-BEN, Omaha, Nebr., June 4. Gunner Lad, acclaimed the 1953 champion at Ak-Sar-Ben by virtue of six victories in eight starts, is scheduled to make his seasonal debut here Saturday in the featured Governors Handicap. Owned and trained by Dell T. Crabtree, Gunner Lads appearance in the entries this year has been anxiously awaited by local fans. The Governors, slated as the sixth race, is a dash of six furlongs, designed for three-year-old and older horses. A prize of ,600 is attached. Gunner Lad, who chalked up this enviable record of six wins from eight tries last year as a three-year-old and on some of those occasions competed with more seas-soned sprinters than himself, has been assigned 112 pounds for Saturdays engagement. The only member of the field of eight who is higher weighted is Dave Mays Big Ox, burdened with 116 pounds. Others in the Governors are Hiram Jr., 112; Styles Dream, 109; Old Norwalk, 109; March Lark, 107; Roman Secret, 110, and Mintaka, 108. Big Ox was tendered the honored impost on the strength, probably, of his unblemished record of three tallies at the current session. Graduating in company each time out, Big Ox earned his third purse toting the steadying package of 123 pounds. Coming from off the pace, Big Ox got up in the final stride to down Undone and prove a successful 6-to-l hazard. He registered the triple during the first five days of racing. Meeting Older Rivals In the following race in which Big Ox completed his triple on May 26, four of his rivals in the Governors Handicap provided the interest in the Princess Handicap. Hiram Jr. was best of this quartet, which included Waco Scamp, Roman Secret and muddy strip, Hiram Jr. reached the end of March Lark. Accomplishing the task over a six furlongs five lengths before Roman Secret, who was third. March Lark was nearly another four lengths farther back for fifth, and Waco Scamp finished sixth. Roman Secret, with 107 pounds and three less than assigned in this encounter, accounted for the Inaugural Handicap when their meeting opened May 20. Old Norwalk was the publics choice among the field Roman Secret headed home, and the former finished third to the victor, by nearly three lengths. This was Old Norwalks only try under silks at the meeting. Styles Dream must be accorded a chance to conquer this band judging from her impressive front-running triumph scored last Saturday, when she sped six furlongs in 1:11, fastest time for the distance at the current session. Mintaka also has gained a purse locally this season. He got up in the final stride to decision Bamma by a head in a one and one-sixteenth miles test. Raymond Bates Bill Boots won his third straight victory of the meeting when capturing the main attraction oh Thursdays twilight program. Racing for Bates ,f or the first time since being claimed from Jess Byrd recently, Bill Boots eked out a driving verdict over Teddytoi, who saved the place by four lengths over Heller, who was made favorite by the crowd of 8,716. The winner was lightly regarded in the wagering and paid 6.20 after going the distance in 1:47 over a slow strip. Harold Featherston rode Bill Boots and he made it a double for the afternoon when piloting Rose Tidings to victory in the eighth race.
