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. I On the Trot I— MOKRIE KURLANSKY -— — Fox Valley Closes Great Meeting Just Miss Wagering Mark in Final Schues Strategy Hinders Darn Safe SPORTSMANS PARK, Cicero, III., June 7.— The Fox Valley Trotting Club closed the most successful meeting in its 10-year . . history history on on a a high high note note . history history on on a a high high note note last Saturday -at May-wood Park. More than 7,000 fans attended the attractive 10-race card, missing the 50,000 wagering mark by just a few dollars, while the sport was the best seen at the spring session. Two handicap races at a mile brought out the top campaigners a t either gait and three -and four-year-old pacers contested a highly exciting co-feature. The outstanding performance of the night was Queens Adios brilliant victory in the handicap pace, the Castleton Farm representative equalling Bavens track record of 2:01, while beating the owner of the standard by four and one-half lengths. If Marcia D.s trotting: mark of 2:04 is still intact, it is not because Darn Safe, winner of the handicap trot and undoubtedly the best diagonally-gaited performer seen here in a long: time, couldnt go that fast, but the result of Benny Schues strategy. The four-year-old gelding, who prior to Saturday had lost only one race at the meeting through unfortunate circumstances and easily bested Express Colby, trotting kingpin here before he met this excellent trotterr was expected to get a real test this time from Earls Song, the Castleton Farm mare. The latter, driven by Wayne Smart, had little difficulty to take command entering the backstretch for the first time and reached the first quarter pole in a blistering :Z9%. Rounding the paddock turn, Darn Safe challenged the leader to get the lead passing the stands. At the half mile mark, 1:01 lit up .on the infield board for the first lap, and it was a foregone conclusion that the ultimate winner of this race would beat Marcia D/s 2:04 and even Jamies 2:0354 over at Sportsmans Park last year. However, Schue took a tight hold on Darn Safe in the third quarter, obviously to give him a breather in anticipation of Earls Songs great finishing power in the final panel. Little did Schue know that the mare, just shipped in from the Maryland circuit where she had won two out of her three starts against free-for-all company, didnt have it Saturday, at least. Instead of Earls Song, it was Sir Gallon who tried valiantly for the last three-eighths to pass the DuQuoin trotter. The black geldings early exertions, he made a break at the start and recovered virtually all the lost ground in a hectic chase for more than half a mile, naturally robbed him of his otherwise tremendous stretch kick. Darn Safe, in full possession of his speed reserve, let loose with a final quarter in :29%, chalking up just another victory instead of a record breaking performance. "With the unusually great number of favorites going to the, post at odds-on during the meeting, it was no surprise that BHaven was backed down to l-to-2 in the handicap pace, in which he was supposed to give his superiority in the sidewheeling brigade the stamp of finality. Much to the disappointment of his many supporters, he was beaten, although not disgraced, by a better horse, Queens Adios. Honors Truax, a recent handicap victor against slightly formidable opponents, as expected set a rapid pace for more than three-quarters, with Queens Adios following in second position, "Warpath third, BHaven fourth and Gay Order trailing. Racing, down the backstretch the second time around, Warpath made x strong move, but Queens Adios went with him and, on the far turn, BHaven joined the pair. Once straightened for the stretch drive, it was clear that the issue was a two-horse race, but not for long. With more than a sixteenth to go. Queens Adios had a two-length lead and steadily widened the gap between him and BHaven, crossing the finish line four and a half lengths to the good while equalling the Illinois pacers track record of 2:01. -Rising young aspirants for major pacing laurels met in a special event conditioned for three- and four-year-olds that had won at the meeting, but were not classified in BB and faster. The race lost some of its glamour when Blue Goose, the fastest three-year-old here with a 2:05 mile, was scratched by owner-trainer Howard Beissinger, who received a 3 -day suspension the night before. But even without Blue Goose it was a memorable race that ended with the four-year-old Swan Bays victory over the surprisingly good Plutocrat and Darn Good Pick. Unbeaten in three starts this year, Swan Bay will have ample opportunity here to prove who is the better Goose Bay offspring, he or the younger Blue Goose. Lou Meggitts astounding pacing colt, Jake Rodney, once again gave an exhibition of speed and gameness when he rattled off a 2:04% mile, coming from the outside post position and stubbornly resisting Hi-Los Starwa stretch charge. Credited with five victories out of nine races this season, his defeats dealt out by B Haven and Blue Goose, Jake Rodney is most likely to make good his owner-breeders prediction that by the end of the season he will be a regular member of the free-for-all class.
