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On the Trot « — By MORRIE KURLANSKT Mr. Dean Does Best on Soft Strip Turns Back Queens Adios, B Haven Darn Safe Moves On to New York SPORTSMANS PARK, Cicero, 111., June 14. — After an enforced interruption of two racing nights the Chicago Downs meeting start on Saturday with an excellent program that united the originally carded features for the week end as well as those of the rained-out Friday program. With the exception of the first and ninth races Saturdays bill that was presented to 8,761 fans who wagered a total of 78,049. highest handle this year in Chicago, consisted of stakes only, all having been early closing events. The 12 class pace attracted the most interest as the mile dash promised another great duel between Castleton Farms outstanding four-year-old Queens Adips and Sally Jane Austins swift B Haven, both sidewheelers joint holders of the Maywood Park track record at 2:01, best time ever registered in Chicago by any harness horse. However, it was neither of the two that garnered the lions share of the ,000 purse but Saunders Mills off-track specialist Mr. Dean. Honors Truax as is his habit sprinted to the front and led the sixThorse field for more than three-quarters of the way. Mr. Dean made his move in the final turn easily disposing: of the tiringr Honors Truax and entering: the homestretch with a lengrth lead. None of his rivals made up appreciable ground to the sixteenth pole, but then B Haven, racing an ihf ovf rpmp nnfcifla m1u P0 4Tia i nin apparently was firmest, came flying but it was too late, Mr. Dean gamely holding on still had a neck advantage at the wire. The seven-year-old Dean Hanover stallion, although credited with 1:58 and mile at Hollywood Park two seasons ago, had always shown his best effort over an off-track and his time of 2:05% is by far the best clocked at this meeting. Considering the fact that the track in spite of the special equipment used all day long until shortly before post time was at least three seconds off its normal speed rating, Mr. Deans victory becomes all the more valuable. Queens Adios, a short-price favorite at 7-to-5, while not exactly disappointing, he finished third, probably did not get the drive from Fred Bach as sulky wizard Wayne Smart would have given him. In the co-featured 10 class trot stake, the Hayes Fair Acres Stable entry of Darn Safe and Pronto Boy finished one-two with the first named much the best in the field of 10 top notch diagonally-g a i t e d performers. -For the excellent Darnley son it was the fifth victory in six starts this season, his lone defeat caused through unfortunate circumstances, otherwise this four-year-old without doubt would be still undefeated in Chicago. Incidentally, Darn Safe brought high honors to Chicagoland harness racing as he was invited to compete against the nations trotting elite at Roosevelt Raceway in the 5,000 American Trotting Championship, annual invitational feature of the Long Island track, this Thursday. New Yorkers are lucky because they will be the first to see Califomian speed wonder Gayleway, a winner of four races at May-wood Park this spring, compete against such free-for-all stars as Darn Safe, Lord Steward these two full brothers also meeting for the first time, Jamie, Lady Dunn, Katie Key. Royal Pastime, and Faber Hanover. The rich route event, the distance is a mile and a quarter, will have definite bearing on championship honors in the aged trotting division and several of the starters might be seen here later in the meeting in the 2,000 National Invitational Trot. Young Gene Riegle, who trains one of the best public stables here, captured driving honors on Saturday night when he won both divisions of an early-closing event to maintain the lead in the driver-standings. In the first division of the 22 class pace stake the capable Ohioan guided George E. Wilsons Western Springs-owned Ross Abbe to a 2:11 victory, the first one for the four-year-old Victory gelding this year, while Kenny J„ owned by Paul L. Nelson of Spring Valley, Ohio, chalked up his fourth triumph in the second division defeating Sherrys Honor and Darn Good Pick in 2:09,. My Scotch Belle and Easter Bunny each won a heat of the 14 class pace stake, the Scotland filly was timed in 2:07% and Roy Corrells stallion negotiated the distance in 2:09%. Because of his better placing in the first heat Easter Bunny was awarded the trophy for the event named the Asthmatic Childrens Aid Race. . . . Billy Rouse, two seasons ago one of the leading drivers in the Chicago area, doesnt win too often these days but when he does hes usually in a hurry to get to the winners circle. He drove May Victory, a useful pacing filly owned by Robert H. Peterson, Rockton, 111., although almost overlooked in the wagering despite some pretty sharp races lately, took the lead early, drew out to win by daylight in 2:13 for the squat little teamster.
