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■ _ ■ H p At the Post I 1 By Joe Hirsch—* J Ippolito Picks 1956 Ward as Sir Tribals Best ■Took Lead From Swaps, Then Bowed to Mahan H urf Cap Winner Has Big Heart, Always Trying ARLINGTON PARK, Arlington Heights, Ill.,"june 20 — From Itagsto Stakes; "It was his best race in a long time," Steve Ippolito observed agreeably from the front ■ _ seat seat of of a a blue blue Chrysler, Chrysler, parked parked _ seat seat of of a a blue blue Chrysler, Chrysler, parked parked ■ H p at the head of his shedrow. The stocky, graying Chicagoan, who sent out Charles Fritz Sir Tribal for a smashing score in last week ends 0,000 Balmoral Turf Handicap, and a visitor were enjoying the novelty of seeking shelter from the cool air that whipped through the stable area here the other morning, a most unusual circumstance indeed dur-ing ing the the summer summer racing racing season. season. ing the the summer summer racing racing season. season. "Was it his best race altogether?" "I think not," Ippolito said. "Id have to pick the Arch Ward Memorial last year at Washington Park, when he took the lead from Swaps and the others and just got beat half a length to Mahan in 1:55." Sir Tribal, one of the most popular horses to race in ~ the Midwest, has a Cinderella background. Bred in Oklahoma, the six-year-old Tribal II. gelding ran in the cheapest kind of claiming events as a youngster, but has developed into one of the countrys finest grass horses under the tutelage of the astute Ippolito. Last year he won his first Balmoral Turf Handicap, took the Stars and Stripes here at Arlington, was second twice to Hasty Houses brilliant Mahan in both the Meadowland and Arch Ward, and earned 31,925. To date hes accumulated just Shy of 50,000 during a checkered and colorful career, which is considerably more than he cost Fritz,- a local trucking and scrap metal dealer. Change of Footwear Last Week End "He runs down pretty bad," Ippolito continued, "and we had trailers — extended shoes behind — on him .all last year. But I took em off for Saturdays i*ace and he may not need them at all any more." "Will he run as well on the dirt as on the grass?" "Hes no slouch on the dirt. Look at this race in. his past performances. The mile and 70 yard race at Hot Springs hi March. He carried 123 pounds and ran in 1:40, which is only two-fifths of a second off Swaps world record. But Id like to keep him on the grass this season. He doesnt like the ground breaking out from under him, and he can really dig in on the turf!" "Whats your next step with him?" "Well, were* planning to run him in the Stars and Stripes again on July 4. Thats a mile and an eighth. And then were going for the big one, the 00,000 Arlington Handicap on July 27." "How about some of those eastern stakes in the fall, or possibly the Arc de Triomphe in Paris?" /Theyre mostly invitation events and well have to see how he comes up to them, but theyre something to think about? "Has he gone back any since last season?" , "No, I think hes as good as he ever was. He won his first two times out this year and had some tough luck in a couple of his other races. Lets take a look at him." Ippolito led the way to the stall where Sir Tribal lolled indolently. A washy gray last year, he had undergone a startling change in color and was now an eyecatching white. Although hes a pretty good doer, his protuberant ribs still lend something of a scarecrow quality to his appearance. Fortunately enough, they dont pay off on looks, but on ability to cover ground quickly, and this fellow can run a little bit. "How do you train him?" "I train him on the dirt and the only time hell get on the grass before a race is for a -brief blowout. He knows when hes on the grass, too. His ears perk up and hes full of run. I dont work him much when hes fit. He doesnt need it. Five-eighths is about as far as hell go." "He runs pretty evenly, doesnt he?" "Yes, he does. I sent him a mile at Oaklawn Park last spring, getting him ready for Chicago, and he went a mile in l:35s by himself. His fractions were steady: 12, :12, :12s right along." Long Stride Does the Job "What is his outstanding quality?" "His stride makes him the horse that he is. Ive never actually measured- it, but he picks up horses in no time at all. A couple of jumps and hes right there. You know, a big-striding horse like he is, he needs a lot of room. Weve taken the worst "of it a lot of times, moving on the outside. But hes got a big heart; hes as game as they come. Hes trying every time, which is all you can ask, isnt it?" It is. . Around the Track: Ike Bassett, manager of the mid-western section of "the Jockeys Guild, has been recuperating from a recent illness in Dodge City, Kansas. Business matters will take him to New York for a day or tw6 and he should be back in Chicago this week end. . . . Fred Hooper bred 15 young mares for the first time last year and 13 or them are in foal. Of this group, six are by his stallion Olympia, and all hav* Cailinued on Page Forty -One AT THE POST By JOE HIRSCH Continued from Page F/re j weanlings by their side. ... Eddie Arcaro, dining in the clubhouse here on Sunday, pondered over dessert. A man suggested vanilla ice cream was 6-to-5, and Arcaro ordered a dish. "You see how easy a race-tracker can get touted?" The master grinned. . . . Alan Charles Burton, the Aussie rider who brought Romanita home first in the Cleopatra on Monday, says she is the best filly hes ridden since Lighty Mogambo. The latter won the Victoria Oaks Down Under, plus a couple of other important stakes. Burton is looking forward to visiting New York this fall before returning to Australia. The jocks here will put on their annual dinner and show on July 18 and are cooking up some songs and skits that should hav Ziegfeld spinning .furiously in the hereafter. . . . Eugene Mori was amazed at the changes that had been effected here during his recent brief visit, and undoubtedly has taken back some ideas for Garden State and Hialeah. . . . Avelino Gomez credits lack of competition with the splurge of winners that has made Mexico Citys Manuel Ycaza the leading rider of North America to date. . . . The late Los Angeles turf write, Maurice Bernard, will be sorely missed by his colleagues in the Churchill Downs press box at Derby time. He was one wonderful guy.
