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Consider Belle Action Early Favorite For Roosevelts 5,000 Messenger Filly Speedster Heads List * Of Candidates to First Leg Of Triple Crown for Pacers ROOSEVELT RACEWAY, Westbury, L. I., N. Y., May 7.— Its spring and talk of the Triple Crown races for the thoroughbreds, of course, is a prime topic among sports fans. This has been a long standing habit among followers of the running- horse. But not until this year did the old sport of harness racing have a series of triple crown races for both its gait of horses which would have championship status. However, harness racing achieved this state of equality this year when Roosevelt Raceway announced the inaugural racing of the 5,000 Messenger Stake for pacers on June 30. This will be the first — or Kentucky Derby — leg of the triple crown races for three-year-old pacers. The middle or Preakness leg will be the Cane Pace at Yonkers in August, with the Little Brown Jug in Delaware, Ohio constituting the or Belmont link in the title races. Roosevelt carded the initial leg of pacings triple crown for two reasons: 1 — Pacers now predominate in harness Spacing by a 5-3 ratio and are more familiar and popular with the patrons. Actually, the name "trots" is now a misnomer. So a real big prestige race was necessary for pacers in view of the fact that trotters have three big tests — The Hambletonian, Yonkers Trot and the Kentucky Futurity. 2— There was no race in either the standardbred or thoroughbred sport named for Messengex who is the founding father of both strains of American horses. So, simply, it became The Messenger Stake for three-year-old pacers. The Messenger will carry a probable 5,000 value this year, with a rise to 00,000 next year and to 25,000 in 1958, making it the Diggest and richest race in the sport. With the big races beckoning and with their thoroughbred cousins right in the middle of the Triple Crown races after yesterdays Kentucky Derby, the interest in the three-year-old pacers has been kindled to a bright fire at Roosevelt. * *- The conversation hasnt been so much about the performances of the sophomores who have raced at Roosevelt, but about those who havent even raced as yet, particularly a pair who are still down in Orlando, Fla. The favorites for the Messenger right now are the pair in Bill Haughtons barns down in Orlando, Belle Acton and Bachelor Hanover. Haughton is not bringing them to Roosevelt until late this month when he will start to step up their training for the Messenger. As a two-year-old the big filly Belle Acton raced faster than any juvenile, colt or filly, ever has when she turned in a record 2:02 mile at Yonkers. This broke the record of 2:03 formerly held by Quick Chief and Adios Boy. Belle Acton would not only be the favorite for the Messenger, but for all the triple crown pacers, except for one thing — she is only eligible for the Roosevelt leg. She wasnt nominated as a foal for the others and only because Messenger was inaugurated this year did she get into this one. However, Haughton has the horse many believe will sweep all three events and certainly the two Belle Acton leaves alone to Bachelor Hanover. As juveniles Belle Acton licked Bachelor Hanover 2-1 in races and 4-2 heats. Right now Haughton says this: "Belle Acton was a little the best last year, but theyre training about the same this year. If I had to pick which one Id race in the Messenger right now, Id have to flip a coin." Of the sixty-eight other eligibles to the Messenger only six are considered capable at this time of taking the Haughton pair. These six are: Buckeye, Queens Knight, Greentree Adios, Noble Adios, Adios Volo and Lanas Byrd. Buckeye won the most races in the two-year-old pace division last year, taking 16 races to Bell Actons 15. However, Belle Acton was in the money in 20 of 21 races, while Buckeye was back in the pack in four of his 25 starts. Owned by the Saunders Mills Stable of Toledo, Ohio, Buckeye was second only to Bachelor Hanover, owned by Mrs. Hazel Rubin of Charlton, N. Y., in purse earnings. Belle Acton was third in this department. Greentree Adios. owned by Joseph Masi-ello of Westbury, L. I., had a 2:00% clocking on a mile track, the best any juvenile did on a twice around oval. Queens Knight, the property of the Gray Brothers Stable •of East Providence, Rhode Island, went faster than any juvenile except Belle Acton on a half-mile track. The Messenger, of course, will be contested on a half-mile track. Noble Adios is recommended because he is a full brother to the great Adios Harry, the fastest pacer in history. He is owned by Paul Wixom of Chicago and driven and trained by John Simpson, Adios Volo, who shows exceptional promise, is also owned by Wixom and handled by Simpson. Lanas Byrd is being pushed as the dark horse because of good training performances and a good showing towards the end of 1955. Owned by Howard Camden, who is also the driver-trainer of the colt, Lanas Byrd won the 4,000 Hoosier Futurity last year after being held back by lameness and a lack of racing aptitude earlier in the year. At some time last season she finished ahead of all the good two-3ear-olds except Belle Acton. This is recommendation enough, plus the fact Camden has been offered a lot of money to sell Lanas Byrd. A clearer line on the Messenger will be afforded when the three-year-olds start to campaign more frequently later this month. But right now all eyes are on Belle Acton, a filly owned by George M. Landers of Kittery, Maine.
