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7,700 7,700 Massachusetts Massachusetts Draws Draws 11; 11; Favor Favor Skipper Skipper Bill Bill for for Long Long Branch Branch Cedrus, Tellarian Among Seven Foes Circle M. Farm Runner Out To Prove Repeat Winner of . 7,000 Monmouth Stakes By WILLIAM C. PHILLIPS MONMOUTH PARK, Oceanport, N. J., June 25.— Circle M Farms Skipper Bill, who last year established the mile and one-sixteenth track record of 1:41 in winning the Long Branch Handicap, Wednesday will attempt to emulate his own feat in the 10th modern renewal of the stake as a 120-pound highweight and probable favorite. Skipper Bill heads a field of eight, to whom he will attempt to concede from two to 16 pounds in his quest for the laurels and monetary gain. With a starting field of eight, the Long Branch will have a gross value of 7,000, with 1,050 marked as the winners share, less his own 5 nomination and 50 starting fees. Skipper Bill, who will be ridden by Kail Korte, is expected to receive the most serious contention from Cedar Farms Cedrus and George D. Wideners Tellarian. Joe Culmone will pilot Cedrus, imposted at 118 pounds, and Benny Sorrenson has the assignment on Tellarian, weighted at 117. Only One Invader This Year -i The Long Branch field represents the best of the local handicap performers who are geared to top running condition. Usually, a number of outlanders ship into Jersey in an attempt to skim off the cveam in the richer events, but the ohlv invader in the present instance is Tellanan. The remainder of the field is comprised of J. E. OConnells Combustion TI., William Hal Bishops Ambiguous, both at 109 pounds; R. E. Caseys War of Roses, 107; Henry H. Hechts Beau Fond, 105, and Bar-ben Stables Bomb Boo, 104. The seven-year-old Skipper Bill has been a remarkable performer over the seasons due to the fact that he has maintained such consistency despite a chronic tendency toward soreness. Mrs. Edward S. Moore mistress of the Circle M Farm, purchased him from the Darby Dan Farm of John W. Gaibreath for an undisclosed sum last winter. He remained under the training of Jack Long, but has been sparingly campaigned since coming under the Circle M banner. He made his latest venture in the Salvator Mile, an event he won last year as the second triumph in a skein of three straight stakes victories: The Brandy wine Handicap, Salvator Mile and the Long Branch Handicap. It was in this last named mat he wore down the pace-setting Cedar Hill m the final furlong and drew off convincingly under a steadying 124 pounds to establish the track record of 1:41. This bettered by two full seconds the previous mark of 1.43 set by Count Flame under a modicum of 107 pounds in 1954. In assigning Skipper Bill 120 pounds for the pending renewal, racing secretary John Turner Jr. was giving the seasoned per- SXiJ «Ur PT"? less but ifc is Questionable if the gallant runner is in quite the same excellent condition that he was at this same period last year. The Skipper made his latest start in the Salvator, this time finishing second eight lengths behind a keen-honed Nahodah who Continued on Page Ten Skipper Bill Strives For | Repeat Long Branch Win Favor Circle M. Farm Star to Beat Cedrus, Tellarian Today Continued from Page Fifty-Two shattered the record for the distance by two and one-fifth seconds by skimming to the wire in 1:34%. It was a good effort for Skipper Bill, who was making his first start since a month previously when he finished fourth in an overnight at Garden State Park. In all, he has made eight starts since January, winning one overnight sprint, and finishing third in two other | allowance races. This morning he had a final workout j breeze of :36% ior three furlongs. His only rival to also be on the track for a final freshener was Cedrus, who displayed good speed of :35% in handy style. Cedrus, a four-year-old homebred son of Warlock, convincingly defeated Beau Fond by daylight here last week, running the mile and a sixteenth in 1 :43. He shouldered 121 pounds against 107 on Beau Fond, leaving him still with a one-pound edge for tomorrows contest. His best performance in seven previous outings this season was a head triumph over Besomer, in the Laurel Handicap. Tellarian smashed to a new worlds record for one mile and 70 yards in winning the Valley Forge Handicap during the early stages of the Garden State Park meeting. Since then, however, he finished unplaced in the Carter and Metropolitan Handicaps at Belmont Park. In winning the Valley Forge, Wideners gelded son of Eight Thirty came from behind for a romping three-length triumph in 1:39%, shaving one-fifth of a second from the previous world standard that was registered by Swaps under 130 pounds at Gulf stream Park. Tellarian carried 110 pounds in the Valley Forge, seven less than required of him tomorrow. Last winter in Florida he was a winner over the grass, but the victory at Garden State was his only score in four starts this season on the flat. His last effort, however, may have been better than shows on paper. He finished fifth in the mile Metropolitan, but had moved within a length of the leaders in the stretch and lacked room in the crucial stages, and was finally beaten only three lengths.
