Weighing In: More Attention Should be Paid to Scale High Voltage Given Severe Task in Top Flight, Daily Racing Form, 1955-06-10

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Weighing In — — — — — By Evan Shipman More AttentionShould Be Paid to Scale High Voltage Given Severe Task in Top Flight Soya H. Makes Pleasing Impression in Debut BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., June 9. — Until just recently the Belmont Park programs carried a plus or minus figure opposite the name of each entry , indicating the relation of the weight carried to scale. In our [ opinon, this was a valuable reminder, nor should it have been " discontinued to make way for the morning line; the morning line, of course, being easily obtainable from the totalisator board. As it is, too little attention is paid the | scale of weights, but we can assure you that this scale, varying month by month, represents a norm that cannot safely be disre garded. For instance, how many m tne crowd at .Belmont Park realized that High Voltage, winner of the recent Acorn and Coaching Club American Oaks, was actually conceding Parlo two pounds in yesterdays renewal of the featured Top Flight Handicap? Parlo, a brilliant stakes winner and voted the best of her division last * season, carried 126 pounds, or scale weight for the month of June, bub High Voltage was assigned 117 pounds, or two over scale at this time of year for a three-year-old. Unless you were very well informed concerning the technicalities of the sport, you might easily have thought that High Voltage was favorably placed in this race; a superficial glance at the weights would have led to this conclusion. On the contrary, this fine gray filly, in relation to a field made up of her elders, was attempting a task that would have stamped her, had she won, as among the best of her age and sex seen on the American turf within living memory. Parlo Showed Excellent Improvement Parlo, improving off an excellent seasonal debut here last week, not only carried scale weight to victory in this mile and a sixteenth Top Flight, easily besting Gainsboro Girl, Spinning Top and a large field of good ones, but smashed a recently created track mark in the process, stepping the distance in 1:41%, and with an initial mile in 1:35%. As for the severely burdened High Voltage, this sterling miss showed her usual honest, capable effort, but she could finish no better than seventh, some 10 lengths off Foxcatcher Farms splendid little daughter of Helopolis— Fairy Palace, by Pilate. Parlo may be a ,:watch-charm" filly— and we cannot recall another one of this diminutive size who possessed equal class — but she is a true Amazon, neither weight nor distance bothering her when trainer Dick Handlen has her at her formidable peak. In contrast to the particularly severe schedule demanded of High Voltage, Parlos resources have been carefully husbanded, this wise caution amply regarded by her accumulated trophies. v This Top Flight was a truly run race, and an exciting race until Parlo took over shortly above the furlong pole. Gainsboro Girl, winner of last seasons New Castle Handicap and looking better than at any time j since that Delaware Park score last July, set a torrid pace, with Ros Clag and Crisset right at her in the run down the backstretch and between the turns. While this trio was sizzling along on the head-end, Eric Guerin had Parlo well placed for a carefully timed attack, and Eddie Arcaro, aboard High Voltage, was , also within striking distance of the leaders. Just before looping for home, Guerin set sail with little Parlo, while Arcaro, momentarily appearing to be blocked, made his appeal on the gray filly. They both found all the racing room they needed, but Parlo was perfectly able to take full advantage of the opportunity, while her younger rival was anchored under the weight. Toward the end, the handy winner swerved over on Gainsboro Girls path, but the latter was thoroughly beaten at the time. Smith Brings Sears String to the Races When Jimmy Smith, a capable trainer of wide experience, took over last winter the elaborate string of horses assembled from far and wide for Eleonora Sears, he found the stable in shape that was anything but encouraging. A great deal of money had been spent, and this stock, either because of fancy pedigrees or impressive Enropean racing records, was expected to show brilliantly in the New England horsewomans colors. Smith realized at once that these horses were in no condition to live up to their extravagant "advance billing/ and he informed his owner that he did not want to start any of them until such time as they were fit and ready to do themselves full justice, his estimate of that date being "toward the end of the Belmont meeting, or maybe the opening of Saratoga." Yesterday, we had our first look at one from this stable under its new regime, and we may add that Smith has every reason to be gratified by his charges good showing. The imported French filly, Soya II., winner- last season of the important Prix Robert Papin and other good fixtures at Parisian tracks, came out in an overnight sprint for those of her sex and age, and she made an altogether pleasing impression. Finishing third to Blue Banner and Fan-tine Busher in fast time, Soya II. handled herself as if thoroughly familiar with our ways, leaving the gate smartly and appearing not to mind the proximity -of other horses during the running. ,She was beaten less than three lengths for it all, the six panels clocked in 1:10%; from now on, this elegant miss is certain to make; her presence felt in top company.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1950s/drf1955061001/drf1955061001_51_2
Local Identifier: drf1955061001_51_2
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800