view raw text
Half Half Dozen Dozen Seek Seek Mr. Mr. Fitz Fitz Handicap; Handicap; Crossland Crossland Humiliates Humiliates Camden Camden Foes Foes Ricci Tavi, Cedrus Co-Highweights Trainer Firzsimmons Saddles Wheatley s Gray Phantom in Event Named in His Honor By PALMER HEAGERTY PIMLICO, Md., May 16.— James F. Fitz-simmons, the gentleman who is concentrating on winning Saturdays 81st Preakness with Bold Ruler, is honored tomorrow on the pre -Preakness program with the second running of the 5,000-added Mr. Fitz Handicap. The test of a mile and three-sixteenths, for three-year-olds and upward, will be contested by a field of half dozen, making for a 6,375 gross purse, with the winner netting 0,950 of his 1,125 gross return. Heading the field are the co-high -weights, Christiana Stables Ricci Tavi and Cedar Farms Cedrus, under 121 pounds apiece. The latter will have a running companion in Roslyn Farms Go Lightly, who gets in under 114 pounds. Others named to compete, with their weights as assigned by racing secretary J. Fred Col-will, are Wheatley Stables Grey Phantom, with whom Mr. Fitz hopes to win his own race, 118; Ernest H. Woods" Mighty Chief, 114. and Cockfield Stables Akbar Khan, 112 pounds. Ricci Tavi 56 Exterminator Winner Ricci Tavi. a son of Rico Monte— Sea Snack, concluded his 1956 campaign with a victory in the local Exterminator, after having previously won the Leonard Richards and Saranac. He will be making his third start of the current term and his first in stakes company. He ran the fastest six furlongs of the Laurel meeting in his seasonal bow. then was beaten by Hel-fast at Garden State. He enters the race with several good trials to his credit and will be ridden by a familiar jockey in Arnold Kirkland. Cedrus, who will be riddden by Joe Cul-mone, is a rather recent development as far as stakes competition is concerned. He accounted for the Laurel in his most recent start, stepping a mile and one -sixteenth in 1:43% to pick up a 0,400 net purse. He is noted for his late speed and the presence of Go Lightly in the field could greatly enhance his chances. Go Lightly will be ridden by William McKin-ley Cook, who handled him well during the Hialeah meeting the past winter. Gray Phantoms greatest claim to fame Continued on Page Forty-Four Mr. Fitz Handicap Tests Sextet at Pimlico Today Topweighted Ricci Tavi, Cedrus Give Gray Phantom Three Pounds Continued or Page fifty-Two is a bang-up second behind Calumets Bardstown in the Tropical Handicap during the past winter. He gave assurance of his present good form with a recent Jamaica victory, covering a mile and one-sixteenth in 1:44% in winning an overnight affair. Sidney Cole will rido the son of Ambiorix. Mighty Chief, who was long a maiden, attained top form in Miami late in the with a close second to Grand Canyon in winter and concluded his campaign there Gulfstreams Southern Cross Handicap. He will enjoy the saddle services of Bill Hartack, who yesterday won the Black Eyed Susan with Hal Price Headleys Pillow Talk and who figures to have quite a bit to say in the week-end Preakness. in which he returns to the saddle atop Iron Liege. Strangely enough, the lightweight of the Mr. Fitz field, Abkar Khan, accomplished a stakes success in his most recent appearance, winning last Saturdays Dixie Handicap at a mile and three furlongs over the turf course. He also was sharp enough earlier in the spring to race Dedicate and Third Brother to a photo decision in Bowies John B. Campbell Memorial Handicap. Eldon Nelson, leading rider of the meeting, will guide the destinies of the Clay Sutphin-trained representative. Tomorrow also will be known as all-America trainers day. with all races named for conditioners who have saddled past winners of the famed Preakness. The supporting races will be named for the late H. Guy Bedwell, Richard E. Handlen. August "Sarge" Swenke. G. Don Cameron. Morris H. Dixon. J. Homer "Casey" Hayes and W. C. "Woody" Stephens.
