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Blue Counselor Likely Repeater at River Downs Impressed in Initial Start of Season; Grand Cella Contender RIVER DOWNS, California, Ohio, June 10. Platers predominate Fridays early week-end card, the seventh, day of this 44-day session. There is, however, a good allowance event for four-year-olds and older horses which brings together 10 capable campaigners. Entitled the Copper Stallion, this event has a six-furlong staging and the purse is ,300. J. T. Simmons Blue Counselor, an eight-year-old full horse, by Blue Swords Miss Chancery, has a strong local following. The aged campaigner has more than just a touch of class and it is evident that his owner-trainer makes few mistakes with his charge. Blue Counselor was idle from September of 1948, until he put in an appearance at Beulah Park in May of 1951. He turned in two straight victories at the Grove City course then made his next debut here at River Downs in May of 1951. His one race of 1953 was a third, also at this course, and he was a bit gimpy after that affair. At the recently concluded Beulah Park meeting he responded well to the steadying pressure of jockey Billy Sackett and was a head the best of Gale Osbornes Star Nymph. It is not improbable that he will wind up the strongest choice in the betting, but he will have his work cut out for him to earn the major share of the purse. William Wells Grand Cella and Charles Deans Jr. Ireland are a formidable pair. Grand Cella finished second to the only two-time winner of this meeting, Simmons and Finns Luciete, in the Welcome Purse on opening day. The track was heavy for that encounter, but the Grand Slam gelding was beaten but a length and one-quarter. A previous effort over a fast track found him a good three and one-half lengths the best of Scotch Jewel and, in five starts for the year, he has won three, had one second and one third to attest his fitness. Jr. Ireland, a five-year-old Dispose gelding, has won on both a fast and a heavy strip this year. In eight of his 12 starts for the year he has campaigned in some of the best allowance company. His two consecutive victories at Beulah were a two and one-half lengths verdict over the Wade Brothers Marcy N. in the Deshler-Hilton Purse over a fast track and a four-length verdict over H. Fisters College on a heavy strip in the featured attraction on May 11. Rounding out the field are H. H. Prices Brownie Lady, S. I. Crews Cyds Baby, N. Ciminis Muriel, L. M. Quills Wellblessed, the Derry Farm stables Petite Donna, C. Bachelors Pennfleur and John Madlevers Gilded Right. I
