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■*r I ■ * On the Trot | By MORRIE KURLANSKT j Meadow Ballad, Cheri Adios Win £ Both Fillies Owned by Kroening - Williams Also Registers Double MAYWOOD PARK, Maywood. 111., May 2. — Meadow Ballad and Cheri Adios, two 5 fillies by Adios owned by Ralph H. Kroen- ing of Milwaukee, emerged victorious from the two divisions of the Illinois Breeders Pace. Both were driven by the capable Indiana teamster, Dick Williams. For the three-year-old Meadow Ballad, it was the fifth consecutive victory at this meeting, while the four - year - old Cheri Adios equalled Golden cc Miss meeting record of 2:04.2, a new rec-_ ord for the Kroening homebred. Williams. -J third-ranking driver at this meeting, for the second time since the opening made Q a complete sweep of an early closer, as previously he had won both divisions of the Chicago Harness Writers Pace. Additionally, he won a division of the Illinois Harness Horsemens Association Trot with Ralph Kroenings steadily improving four-year-old trotter Darneau. It was interesting to note that Williams used entirely different driving tactics with Meadow Ballad and Cheri Adios, cleverly adapting himself to the manner in which each division was raced and making full use of Meadow Ballads favorable inside post position in the first division. The sophomore filly once again showed extreme courage in an exciting head-and-head stretch battle with the older filly, Cleopatra Hanover, and it was not until the last few yards that Williams used his whip on his speedy mount, but only to impress the seriousness of the job to be done on the still-green Adios daughter. Cheri Adios. in her division, in which she went to the post as third choice against the even-money favorite, Divonbay, and the Ponce De Leon record holder. Jenuine Hanover, profited not only by a terrific speed duel between Brietta Hanover and Bonnie Time, but a very heady drive on part of Williams. Biding his time in fifth position until the pacemakers reached the backstretch the second time around, Williams roused Cheri Adios coming out of the clubhouse turn and the filly responded immediately with an impressive burst of speed to get the lead within a sixteenth of a mile. Around the final curve and down the homestretch, Cheri Adios steadily widened her head to win easily by two and a half lengths from Neoga Jester, who outfinished the dog - tired Brietta Hanover for the place. Meadow Ballad, in command early, gave way to Lees Thoughts, but displaced Roy Griebels gelding at once when the field bunched up behind her on the clubhouse turn and Cleopatra Hanover started a strong move. From the final quarter pole on, Meadow Ballad and Cleopatra Hanover engaged in a private duel many lengths ahead of the rest of the 10-horse field. With Williams sitting still until the embattled pair had almost reached the wire, Meadow Ballad was well in hand at the end, although Cleopatra Hanover, catch-driven by Del Insko. was right alongside her crossing the finish line. In the second division, C. M. Saunders Divonbay, an overwhelinmg public choice, found himself parked out when Brietta Hanover and Bonnie Time battled it out for the lead to go the first quarter in 29.1 seconds. Ralph Ayou, at the reins of Brietta Hanover, was adamant in trying to keep his leading position on the rail and Jim Maupin, reinsman of the Wilmington mare, Bonnie Time, thus was forced to stay in second position unable to get command. When 1:00 flashed for the first half mile, it was clear to all but the most innocent observer that neither the Tar Heel filly nor Maupins good mare would be able to sustain this rapid clip, far less withstand the onslaught of some of the fast finishers tucked in on the rail behind them. With Divonbay parked out for the entire trip, it seemed that Jenuine Hanover, in third position on the rail, would be an easy winner after that terrific fast early pace, as Cheri Adios, of necessity, had to go around Divonbay and Bonnie Time. Jenuine Hanover, however, when the time came to make his move, had nothing left, while Cheri Adios challenge was timed to perfection, the filly gaining command on the straightaway without sacrificing valuable ground. Neoga Jester came from out of the pack in the final turn to garner second money, while the rank outsider. Poplar Citation, had no difficulty at all to breeze by tired horses in the stretch to almost nip Brietta Hanover for third money. In other interesting races on Friday, Elmer Conrads homebred Rubys Sun. by Worthy Boy — Miss Ruby, scored his fourth triumph at this meeting to reduce his own record to 2:06.3. Floyd M. Griebels rejuvenated escapee from the claiming ranks Mighty McKinn, chalked up his third straight victory in a B-class event, coming from behind to outfinish Marie Haven in 2:07.3. Veteran trainer-driver Joe Clark, making one of his rare sulky appearances on Friday, promptly guided Hebert Dunns good trotting mare, Anna Reed, to a 2:06.3 triumph in a B-Class event to set a meetings record for diagonally — gaited performers. It was the seventh start at this meeting and his fourth win for the Wisconsin teamster, wholl be 64 years old the end of this month.
