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1 ■ On the Trot I By MORRIE KURLANSKY 1 Daisy Astra Breaks Track Mark Marcia D. Comes in for Credit Capital Airlines Stakes Tonight MAYWOOD PARK, Maywood, 111., June 17. — The long expected finally came true Tuesday when Daisy Astra, seven-year-old daughter daughter of of Peter Peter As- daughter daughter of of Peter Peter As- Astra from the Mr. Mc-Elwyn mare. Daisy Mc-Elwyn, broke the track record for trotters held jointly by Lord Steward and Rose Song since 1951. Daisy Astras mile in 2:04% was a fitting climax to a series of excellent trotting contests, which highlighted this spring meeting meeting and and documents documents meeting meeting and and documents documents the class of diagonally-gaited performers competing here this year. Blond-thatched Billy Shuter, one of the youngest reinsmen on the Chicago circuit, and recognized as a real comer in his profession, was at the reins of William Hieatts Kentucky-owned-and-bfed mare, and it was his excellent judgment of pace and general driving ability that helped Daisy Astra garner victory in the ,000 open trot for her fourth track record. Daisy Astra already held the track mark at Painesville, Ohio, and the mile and the mile and one-sixteenth records at Brentlawn, Ky. Daisy Astra was making her 12th start of the season and it was her fifth victory at this meeting:, in addition to being second twice and third twice for earnings of ,800 here. While the field of this mile race was small, the quality of the six starters was definitely first class. Daisy Astra, who on May 20 had trotted a mile in 2:05Yo, which up to Tuesday was the fastest trip for trotters, was opposed by Marcia D., who previously had won four heats in succession to be undefeated this year; Little Steve, winner of his last two races; Steve Tell, recent conqueror of Daisy Astra and Clever Tee; Nancy Lee Day, a winner of three races at this meeting, and the- Detroit invader, Black Worthy. Marcia D., with her great early foot, took the track at the start, but Paul Compton did not press his charge once in the lead, to reach the quarter pole in 22y5 seconds, which couldnt have given any one the impression that there was a new track record in the making. Rounding the far turn, Little Steve and Steve Tell rushed up to take command, getting the half mile in 1:03%, a reasonably fast time for this kind of trotters. Steve Tell, who had been on the outside of Little Steve all during the second quarter, pushed to the front on the backstretch to get the three-quarters in 1:34%, followed closely by Daisy Astra, Little Steve and Marcia D., while Nancy Lee Day and Black Worthy were several lengths back. On the final turn, Steve Tell showed signs of weakening, while Daisy Astra, now going at full speed, immediately took the lead with Marcia D. going right with the Kentucky mare. When they turned for home it was Daisy Astra in front by one and a half lengths and with Compton letting the stops out on her. One of the most exciting stretch duels seen at this meeting ensued, to win by one length. Only when the final time of 2:04% was flashed on the board was it realized that Marcia D. had to trot the last quarter in close to 29 seconds for Daisy Astra was timed in 30 seconds flat for the last panel. A breakdown of the four quarters best illustrates Daisy Astras outstanding performance and gives high credit to Marcia D„ too: First quarter, :32J£; second quarter in :31%; third quarter, :31; fourth quarter, :30 flat; first half, 1:03%; last half in 1:01. Lady Natalie, a black mare by Chief Abbedale, with youthful Carl Sifert, 24, in the sulky, chalked up her second consecutive victory here and got a new record of 2:07. This Indianapolis-owned pacer is the only horse to defeat Red Dominion with a mile in 2:01%, the new Hazel Park track record holder during his 1953 Chicago campaign . . . Clever Tees stablemate, the four-year-old trotting filly, Clever Trinket, won her fourth race since opening night with trainer Earl Roush in the sulky . . . Both pacing races for three-year-olds Tuesday ended with longshot victories and Dominant, who won his heat in 2:09, and Greenbrier, who was timed in 2:10%, broke their maidens in their respective races Bridget Hal, royally-bred daughter of Hal Dale out of the Volomite mare, Lassie Mack, won her first race since her two-year-old campaign Tuesday in C class, pacing the event in 2:11%. A 15-to-l shot, and full sister to Irish Hal and Killarney Hal, Bridget Hal is owned by Paul S. Dougherty of LaGrane, HI., and was driven by Jack Hankins. There is a strong possibility that the free-for-all pacers will follow Daisy Astras example and break the track record in their division, which is held by Good Time, who paced the mile in 2: 035 here, when a classy field of six sidewheelers come out for the two dashes of The Capital Airlines Stakes Friday night. In order of post positions for the first heat, the following horses will compete in this ,000 early-closing event: Gay Order, who won his last race in 2:03%; Miss Shine-A-Mite, third in Gay Orders swift trip, beaten but a neck; Knox Hanover, holder of the meetings record of 2:04, set on June 4; Countess Vivian, second to Knox Hanover by a nose in the colts 2:04 mile; Thomas Hat, Victor in 2:05 earlier this week in his first start of the season, and Dale Win-gay, who won in 2:05% a few weeks ago. Even if the track record is not broken, this race will decide who the best pacer at this meeting is, and, while Gay Order, Miss Shine-A-Mite, and Dale Wingay by no means can be counted out before the race, the issue seems to be between Knox Hanover, Countess Vivian and Thomas Hat, who, on sheer class, can hardly be separated, each of the trio having outstanding performances on the. Grand Circuit and over the nijjht ovals to "his" credit.
