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full full advantage advantage of of a a Stakes Stakes at at six six furlo; furlongs. - . _. . — — .. — . 4 Turning for Home I By Leon Rasmussen Freakish Storm Helps Lightning Jack Scores Second Off-Track Stakes Win Mas Day Comes Day Before Mothers Day HOLLYWOOD PARK, Inglewood, Calif., May 13.— Whats one horses poison, sir, is anothers hay: Taking full full advantage advantage of of a a miniature miniature cloudburst cloudburst which which hit hit the the miniature miniature cloudburst cloudburst which which hit hit the the Inglewood area in mid-morning, while leaving most of Los Angeles as dry as a desert bone, and turned the Hollywood Park racing strip to mud, Morriss Schapiro and Jack Leavitts mud-loving Dogpatch colt, Lightning Jack, on Saturday drenched his rivals with a breath-taking run through the stretch which finally got" him home a bitter nose in front of Peter Strubs pace-setting Royal Academy in the 8,150 Debonair tigs. When When trainer trainer C. C. B. B. "Buddy" "Buddy" Stakes Stakes at at six six furlo; furlongs. tigs. When When trainer trainer C. C. B. B. "Buddy" "Buddy" Leavitt had said earlier in the week he was praying for rain, it sounded down right silly, for there had never before been an "off" track at a Hollywood Park summer meeting, and the course was working on a record of 326 fast-track programs. The last "off" track was back on November 22, 1950, during the second half of a split meet caused by re -modeling after the fire of the previous year. But this freakish storm came along, unloaded about a half inch of rain in the matter of minutes, answered Mr. Leavitts fervent entreaties, and washed up Hollywood Parks record dry run. With the heavens themselves playing such a benign role, Lightning Jack seemed to be the favored son of some important celestial elements. He won like it, too. He was as "right as rain" and he came from "out of the clouds" to win. Recall San Bernardino Performance Lightning Jack was striking for his second straight stakes win, the chestnut three-year-old having proved in his last start at Santa Anita on March 11 that he was an exceptional "off" track performer as he stormed to the wire first in the mile and a sixteenth San Bernardino Handicap over a heavy, tiring track. A despised outsider that day, Lighting Jack revealed Round Tables distaste for "off" going as he had the ultimate Bay Meadows Derby and Blue Grass Stakes winner and Kentucky Derby third way down the track. Lightning . Jack has won three races out of 21 lifetime starts, and two of these have been through gooey going. His only fast-track win was again mediocre maidens. A few days before his San Bernardino triumph, Lightning Jack ran third at the same distance to horses on a fast track that couldnt warm him up in the muddy going. It may be that he is such an improved colt that he will now be able to race with the leaders of his division here over any type of strip, but until he proves that, we much accept him for what he is, a triple-starred bearcat in the mud. The Debonair running was pleasantly free of any untoward incidents. Nine started after the track condition had prompted three scratches. The field broke as one, but Royal Academy, a husky son of Fair Truckle, quickly strode into a half-length lead over Mrs. Connie Rings favored Liberal Art, with Desi Arnaz and Lucille Balls Count Speed colt, Count Arrow, third on the outside of the bunched field. Lightning Jack was in seventh position nt this time, but not too far away for a horse with his known stretch punch. At the half, Royal Academy was a length on top and now Count Arrow, still racing wide, had moved up menacingly into second spot before the fading Liberal Art, and Earl Stice and Sons Buford, who was moving well along the inside, a short margin before Lightning Jack. Goes All Out Rounding Final turn Around the turn and into the stretch, Royal Academy widened his lead slightly, and Count Arrow, although going on willingly, was obviously not going to catch him. Now, Lightning Jack, taken out for the drive by jockey Mel Peterson, was in full flight. Liberal Art and Buford were both through. With every mud-devouring stride, the ultimate winner cut into Royal Academys margin, but the latter, under vigorous persuasion by Ismael Valenzuela, was giving it the old college try and it seemed that he might hold off his flying pursuer. But the finish line was about three yards too far away for Royal Academy and the determined Lightning Jack pushed his nose in front right on the post. It was a near thing and an exciting race. Royal Academy, who has never shown an especial liking for mud, ran a remarkable race under the circumstances and one is entitled to believe he would have been almost impossible to beat on a fast strip. The final time of 1:11% was commendable in the going. Lightning Jack is by the deceased sire, Dogpatch, a full brother to Calumet Farms fabulous Bull Lea Bull Dog — Rose Leaves, by Ballot. Dogpatch, although a mere shadow compared to his renowned brother, always managed to sire a few hard-hitting runners each season in California, and some of them had stakes class. Threesome, Patch, Stitch and last years good stakes winner, Tussle Patch, are names which pop into mind. Lightning Jack is out of Reigh Orphan, by Reigh Count, and it is this latter name in his pedigree which probably accounts to a great extent for his mud-running ability. The Debonair winner was a ,700 purchase at the Continued on Page Forty-Fbrt Turning for Home By LEON RASMUSSEN Continued from Page Pout Del Mar yearling sales of 1955. He was one of five bred and sold there by George M. Thomas of Glendora. All five have more than won back their purchase prices and another, Jet Speed, by Count Speed, is a stakes winner, while another, Speedy Kiss, also by Count Speed, placed in stakes. The remaining members of that successful consignment were Solid Look and Solid Fleet, both by Solidarity. Another Thomas-bred, Solid Gem, by Solidarity, won the Laurel Handicap in April. The Thomas thoroughbred farm is managed by Bill Foy, who also has an interest in the farm and its produce. Thomas is a director of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association and is in the construction business. Mrs. John Hertz Count Speed, who is having a fine season and whose sons, Eddie Schmidt and Count Arrow, placed in Saturdays stakes here and at Bay Meadows, stands there, as does L. B. Mayers Grantor. Mas Day comes the day before Mothers Day, evidently. Three good-priced winners on the Saturday program were trained by Ma. Solicitous sons and daughters made out all right, if they read the sign. Of course, this was S. Y. Ma. the Chinese conditioner, who sent out Take Leave. 8.20; Foxy Silver. 4.30. and Pay Section, 0.60. Chinatown was jumping Saturday night. Chop chop!
