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Eight Chasers Go In Appleton Today King Commander Gives His Rivals Considerable Weight; Evening Out Makes 55 Bow BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., May 4. — The first of the series of steeplechase stakes, the 34th running of the Charles L. Appleton at about two miles, is the feature event here Thursday, while a clever band of fillies and rriares meet in the six-furlong Creole Maid Purse that follows as the sixth event. The* Appleton is headed by Lawrence R.- Troianos King Commander with a steadying 162 pounds. King Commander was voted the steeplechase champion of 1954, completing his campaign with a victory in the Temple Gwathmey here on October 22 in which he carried 164 pounds. While the big Brown King gelding has not started since, most of trainer Mickey Walshs charges appear in fine form after their winter sojourn at Southern Pines, N. C. Last year King Commander won three other stakes and an overnight event, was second seven times and third once. He completed the course in all but one of his starts. However, he - - - - „ evidently did need a race: when he made his seasonal debut, finishing a tiring second last April 29. The chief rival to the champion appears to be Mrs. Ogden Phipps Ancestor, who gets in with an extremely favorable 134 pounds/ Ancestor won here on April 28, beating Mrs. , G. L. Qhrstroms Prince Glorieux by two lengths after that horse swerved in the stretch. It appeared, however, that Ancestor had been only toying with his rival and may well develop into one of the best chasers of the year. Powhatans Virginius finished fourth in that race while Troianos Curly Joe was seventh and Brookmeade Stables Condor n. lost his rider at the eighth fence when far back. Prince Glorieux, who carries 130 tomorrow, is a French jumper with a poor record, but was asked to compete against the best in his native land, a suggestion that he was thought to have intrinsic class. Pat Smithwick, as usual, will ride King Commander, while Frank "Dooley" Adams will again be on Ancestor and Prince Glorieux will have the services of L. Mc-Morrow. Tommy Field will be on Virginius, Elwood Carter will pilot Condor II with Charlie Harr, who rode Prince Glorieux Jast week, on Curly Joe. The Appleton field is completed by J. F. McHughs versatile River Jordan, 134, and Mrs. C. E. Adams record Errolford, with the same impost. River Jordan, like Ancestor, has won good races on the flat, hurdles and over the big fences. On April 26 he led all the way to beat Hyvania in a steeplechase here, while 10 days earlier he won a hurdle race at the Midland Hunts. A brilliant horse, he may be betrayed by his impetuousness. No rider has been named. Scotty Riles will be on Errolford, who turned in an even race in a hurdle event here on Monday. Only seven have been named for the Creole Maid, but they are a speedy lot. George D. Wideners juvenile filly champion of two years ago, and who was hampered by a knee last year, Evening Out returns to action here with topweight of 120 pounds, most of which will be Eddie Arcaro. T. F. Whites Miss Weesie merely galloped home six lengths before a clever field here last Friday oh.a sloppy v track;rW. Jif.| Wickhams Where Are We scored just as | easily at Jamaica on April 22 against a field that was probably just as good. Eddie Holtons hard-hitting Trisoflg finished third to Brazen Brat and Ros Clag in the Correction Handicap on April 18, in which J. M. Roeblings Crisset was a well-beaten sixth. J. C. Pollards Ever Bright finished far behind Crisset when that filly won a dash on April 12, but won her previous start at Jamaica. The field is completed by C. V. Whitneys classy Dispute, who has not been seen since finishing second to Mile. Lorette in the Gallor-ette Stakes at Pimlico in November. She had won her previous start at Jamaica. Most of Syl Veitchs charges have been ready for a top race first out. Hedley Woodhouse will ride Trison, while Paul Bailey will pilot Dispute. Bill Boland will be back on Miss Weesie and Doug Dod-son will guide Crisset. Apprentices Jimmy Cangemie and Ray Mikkonen will be on Ever Bright and Where Are We, respectively. Mikkonen has ridden Where Are We in most of her best races. Greentree Stables highly promising three-year-old Gold Box, who went in the air at the start of his seasonal debut here, will be given another chance in the seventh race, in which he meets such as Georgian, Hartsville, Tocsin, Little Dell, Alibhai Lashes and others.
