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Sea Sea O O Erin Erin Wins Wins Myrtlewood; Myrtlewood; Oaks Oaks Honors Honors to to Willamette Willamette Rain, Sloppy Strip Cut Field to Four Hasty House Veteran Beats Besomer by Length and Half; Arlington Host to 23,192 By JOE HIRSCH ARLINGTON PARK, Arlington Heights. 111., June 22. — Hasty House Farms mud-loving .Sea O Erin captured todays seventeenth running of the 1,175 Myrtlewood Handicap at six furlongs after a mid-afternoon thunderstorm had reduced the starting field to four. Among those declared were Calumets Fabius, Gay Drakes Dogport and Spring Hill Farms I Appeal. Sea O Erin, ridden by Lois Cook, led every step of the way over the sloppy strip to capture the Myrtlewood by a length and a half. Second was Colin MacLeod Jr/s Besomer, whose late and dramatic challenge made a horse-race out of what initially appeared a rout. Four and a quarter lengths behind Besomer-came Johnson-Blossom Stables Good Gesture, while the 6-to-5 favorite, Rothmore Farms Munchausen, was another length and a half back. Throng Hit by Heavy Rain A crowd of 23,192 was on hand for the first Saturday card of the 36-day meeting and was chased from the rail between the third and fourth races by a shower of tropical intensity. The downpour lasted for only one race, but left the track quite sloppy. So heavy was the rain that the jocks were transported to the paddock behind the stands by station wagon Sea O Erin, a seven-year-old son of Shannon II., from Chantress, earned first v Continued on Page Fifty-Six Princess Princess Turia Turia Annexes Annexes New New Castle; Castle; Stars-Stripes Stars-Stripes Hopefuls Hopefuls Vie Vie Monday Monday Sea 0 Erin Wins Myrtiewood Cap Leads Throughout Arlington Feature, Beating Besomer by Length and Half; 23,192 Out Continued from Page One money of 2,000 by annexing his first victory in 10 starts this year. He has now accumulated 4,000 this season and has earned a grand total of 07,259 during a career that has stretched over the past five seasons. Owners Allie and Billie Reuben were on hand for the victory, though there was no formal winners circle ceremony. Jockey Cook, questioned after dismounting, observed that "he shot out of the gate like a bullet today. He loved the going and just galloped in an easy race." Trainer Harry Trotsek added, "He had run on his mind today. He was frisky in the paddock and I think he was at his best today. Of course, he had his race track and that was all he needed." Sea O Erin got the six panels in 1:11%. and was also responsible for the quarter clocking of :23% and the half-mile time of :46. Off at 8-to-5, he returned .20. Sea O Erin, like Munchausen, earned 118 pounds, while Good Gesture and Besomer were rigged at 113 pounds each. Second in Last Start Sea O Erin, who was second to Swoons Son in his last start, the Citation at Balmoral on May 25, broke alertly under Cook, who was -completing a consecutive double. Down the backsfretch and curving for home, the race assumed a fixed pattern. Sea O Erin was in front by about two lengths, followed by Munchausen on the rail and Besomer lapped on him, these two racing as a team. At the head of the stretch, Sea O Erin continued to sail along easily with a two-length advantage. Approaching the eighth pole, Munchausen tired and came out, while Nick Shuk dropped Besomer along the rail and made a hard run at the leader. Besomer made up good ground though not quite equal to catching Sea O Erin, while Good Gesture outfihished Munchausen, then pulled up lame. Alamode Farms Dr. Josh, who led through most of the seven furlongs of the Bunting Purse, was a handy winner by two and one-half lengths. Bwamazon Farms Etonian, the even-money choice, apparently didnt care for the going and finished fourth. Runner-up to Dr. Josh, a three-year-old Ambiorix colt, was Fabbri and Cortesis Dip Chick, while another half-length back came O. S. Demings Risk Again. -Dr. Josh, who won in the slop at Balmoral last spring for the only other triumph of his career, was clocked in 1:26 under 117 pounds and returned 2.80. Johnny Heckmann, who earlier had tallied with Mrs. Thelma Otts Hasty Freedom in the third, was completing a double. Etonian, third in last years Arlington Futurity, broke two bones in his right knee last summer and was sidelined until four days ago. He made a successful return to the races, winning "a maiden race by two lengths, but didnt seem to appreciate the going this afternoon.
