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On the Trot 1 By MORRIE KURLANSKY Battle Prince in Superb Performance Rouse Finally Finds Winners Circle Excellent Week-End Card Tonight SPORTSMANS PARK, Cicero, 111., June 25. A large crowd of 7,527, who wagered a brisk 81,382 on the mid-week program here, witnessed, a superb performance by the six-year-old stallion. Battle Prince,-who not only broke Charming Scots track record of 2:03ys, but paced the fastest mile ever recorded at a Chicago area night harness track when he was timed in 2:02 in the first heat of the featured 14-class pace stakes. The son of Brown Prince Frisco Grattan always had a special liking for this strip, where he had been successful as a three- and four-year-old and it was only fitting that the black pacer should become the new track record holder. Battle Princes outstanding feat is all the moreremarkable, for since his four-year-old form, when he entered the charmed 2:00 circle at Lexington, Ky., he never has been fully sound, being plagued by suspensory trouble. When Dee Stover took Battle Prince in training during: the Maywood Park session, he immediately started treating: the black stallion daily with his new diathermic ultrasonic machine and the re- - suits have been more than satisfactory. Stoner also got Battle Prince more used to the rail, the stallion formerly having: been raced in the middle of the track. The greatest asset of this speedy pacer, though, is his indomitable courage, of which he gave a better demonstration in the second heat of Wednesdays race than he did in his record-breaking performance in the first dash. When Stoner drove him back to the paddock after the first heat, he noted that Battle Prince favored his left hindleg and the track veterinarian was consulted. Battle Prince, during the 45-minute interval between the two heats, recuperated marvelously and showed no ill effects during his final blow-out mile to remove all doubts in Stovers mind. So Battle Prince came back for the second dash to win again, this time clocked in 2:04, last half in 1:01. The individual quarters in Battle Princes record performance were timed as follows: 30; 30 half in 1:01; 31; and 30 last half in 1:01. Billy Wasson, Hugh K. Funderburgs consistent pacer, was the favorite in the first heat, with Battle Prince and Thomas Hat also well supported, while the other three starters, Peggy Barnes, Earl Widower and Red McKlyo,-were"the outsiders. Try as they might, Billy Wasson and Thomas Hat could not resist Battle Prince when Stover took his charge out on the backstretch nearing the final quarter pole, Black Prince winning by three lengths. The second heat was more or less a repeat performance only that Battle Prince took command at the first quarter to set his own pace, although Billy Wasson tried in vain to get the lead during the second quarter, while the rest of the field never reached a contending position. Billy Rouse, who hadnt been in the winners circle for over two weeks, finally steered a winner Wednesday in Rusty F. He substituted for Bob Parkinson. The five-year-old Siskiyou stallion won with consummate ease in 2:08 for his first triumph of the season, after having been second four times in seven tries... Nick Ewing, who came from a successful Kentucky campaign, steered his first winner here in Wednesdays CC-class pace when his own Honor Roll led from wire to wire to win in 2:07 and sustain the good form shown at Louisville. . .Hambletonian winner, Mainliner, on the downgrade ever since he won harness sports richest event, finally downed a field of CC-class trotters in 2:10 for his first win since 1952, but the Roman-nosed stallion was all out to hold Wally Grimms Donald Gayle in the last few yards. . .Tom Mills, owner-trainer from Henderson, Ky., scored a double victory Wednesday. In a non-wagering event for 25-class trotters, Mills guided the first-time starter, Liz Grattan, to a maiden victory in 2:13 and annexed a CC-class trot with his own Deb Abbey in 2:09. . .Trotting horse specialist Floyd Milton became the temporary leading reinsman here by virtue of a victory behind Volo Colby in Wednesdays second race after having won with Allan Chips and Dixie Tass earlier in the week. Two early-closing events and an open pace will co-feature the excellent weekend program here, which will bring out some of the .nations swiftest performers at both gaits. Of -special interest will be the re-appearance of Rose Song 2:01, former trotting track-record holder at Maywood Park. The seven - year - old daughter of Gay Song was a heat winner in the 0,000 Maywood Park Trotting Derby in 1951, defeating, among others, Lord Steward in the very good time of 2:0446. Only lightly raced in 1953, she returns to competition in fine fettle and should add to her lifetime earnings of 3,251. . .Rose Song will be opposed by the recent winners, Dici Tass, Little Steve, Johnny Brown and Buckie B., while former free-for-all star, Bangaway, and Wayville cannot be dismissed lightly. In the 19-class pace stakes, all ten starters, with the exception of Mighty Duke, who makes his seasonal bow, have won at least twice this year. Newtown Girl, winner at Louisville in 2:04M, drew the pole position, but will have her work cut out with such formidable foes as Lew MacPherson, Lady Natalie, Fairbanks, Assured, and Grand Wisconsin. The open pace pits the free-for-all stars, Rilmas Widower, Athlone Ruler and Mr, Dean, against Billy Wasson, Kings Ale, Spencer Camp, Red McKlyo and Dale Wingay. " "
