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i On the Trot 1 By MORRIS KURLANSKY Fine Program Scheduled for Tonight t Blue Goose in Sophomore Pace Stake Sir Gallon Tops Free-for-AH Test j" SPORTSMANS PARK, Cicero, 111., June 24. Saturday nights nine-race card while ! lacking the usual feature for free-for-allers nevertheless is one of the best presented at the current successful Chicago Downs meeting at Sportsmans Park. The week end offers a fine cross section of some of the best sulky talent at present campaigning in the Midwest and from a purely sporting point of view the third race, a pace stake for three- year-olds, is probably the most interesting as it brings out three sophomore side-wheelers who distinguished themselves both here and at Maywood Park. Howard Beis-singers Blue Goose, he fastest three-year-old in Chicago this season with his mile record of 2:05, earlier this week defeated older opponents in handy style, but will have to be at his best in order to take the measure of the steadily improving Plutocrat and Darn Good Pick, a victim of bad racing luck the last time out. Sir Gallon, back from an unfortunate, foray to Detroit that ended with a two-day suspension for driver Gene Riegle, must be accorded a first-class chance, although he will be opposed by Earls " Song, Miss Sue Ellen, and Clever Tee among others in a combined Junior Free-For-All AA-A class trot. An exciting battle from start to finish can be expected from Saturdays A-class pace in which Susan Wayne, Pastime Mazzy, Kenny J., Andiamo, Rocky Win, and Chief Go will vie for a 1,600 purse. Once again entries for event No. 19, an early closing race for 16 class non-winners of 0,000 at the beginning of the 55 season pacers were so plentiful that Chicago Downs split the quasi stake in two divisions with the original purse of ,750 per dash maintained for each of the four heats contested on Wednesday night. Two horses who showed to good advantage in their previous Chicago area engagements but were still winless this season, annexed both dashes of their respective divisions. While Russet Hal, a five-year-old chestnut stallion by Hal Dale, only standardbred sire who stands for a stud fee of ,000-and this at the ripe old-age of 29 years, did his illustrious progenitor proud winning his two dashes in identical time of 2:03 equaling his own half-mile track record established last August at Wolverine Raceway, Detroit, Newtown Girl, a five-year-old mare by the relatively obscure George Direct furthered the cause of Hoosier breeding that gave the standardbred sport among other greats the "horse that time forgot" the immortal Single G. Botli fields were very well matched, some observers believing that Russet Hals division which included Minnie Jean, a winner of six out of eight races this year, the ever dangerous Little Ralph, the recent surprise victors Pastime Mazzy and Breezie Volo, returning win mutuete of 1,20, 1.00, and 55.80, was the tougher one, a notion that was sustained by the actual races. Driven by his owner, Howard McAra of Davison, Mich., Russet Hal, this time favored by the rail position, left no doubt about his superiority and in his present fine form would be a hard nut to crack even in free-for-all competition. Following Little Ralph, who in both heats was in command early, until the eighth pole the Hal Dale stallion was much the best when set down for the drive winning his heats by the comfortable margin of two and a half lengths and two lengths, respectively. Minnie Jean was backed down to even money favoritism in the first dash by the crowd of 5,893. Many in the crowd were members of charitable organizations like the Bnai Brith Protus Chapter, Chicago League for Nephretic Children, Elaine Settler Polio Foundation, Minnie Jean showed her customary good performance under guidance of Howard Beissinger, leading driver at this meeting. Finishing third in the first heat, the four-year-old Rip Hanover daughter while not menacing Russet Hal outgamed Victory Melody and Little Ralph for second money in the return encounter. With co-owner Maurice Thompson at the reins, Newtown Girl, in the money five times out of six races this year, had little difficulty showing her six" rivals the way home in both heats, each time beating 2:05 and racing the second dash two-fifths faster than the first, one and just missing her Louisville mark of 2:04V6. The Hoosier miss, equally adept over a fast and a muddy track, in Wednesdays race proved that she can be rated, too, coming from behind in the first heat with a devastating burst of speed in the final quarter. In the second dash, the mare again allowed Grand Wisconsin to set the pace for almost a half mile but took command in the club- house turn when the Illinois pacer slowed down, his reinsman Harry Bur-right apparently trying to save the stallions reserve speed for the last panel. May Victory with Billy Rouse in the sulky garnered the first claiming race of the season, a pacing affair for horses in the ,200 to ,000 classification. There were no takers. Incidentally, the claiming event scheduled for Friday night received only two entries Court Senator ,100 and Real Day, ,500 and was called off.
