view raw text
Benedicto Returns to Action Today Churchill Feature Brings Out Eleven Strong Point# Mr. Fantastic And Shan Pac Among Highly Regarded Omaha Purse Foes By Staff Correspondent CHURCHILL DOWNS. Louisville. Ky.. May 6. — Mrs. Anthony Bellardi and T. I. Harkins Benedicto makes his return to the races Thursday afternoon in the featured Omaha Purse at 6 furlongs. The four-year-old gelding, second in last years Arkansas Derby and a fine development coming up to the 1958 edition of the "Run for the Roses, has been out of action since September during which time he was fired and given a long rest to prepare for his coming campaign in the handicap division. Others named for Thursdays headliner, which has been endowed with a prize of ,500 are: T. Alie Grissoms entry of Shan Pac and Litte Reaper. F. H. Starks Prince Torch, Frank Cellands Lucky Lena, J. W. Buchanans Helequest, Mr. and Mrs. A. P. Richards Second Fiddle, Gentilly Stables Strong Point, G. S. Killpatricks Mr. Fantastic, Dixianas Resolved and J. C. Hauers Little Fitz. Accent Is On Speed The accent in the Omaha is strictly on speed and as a consequence it would appear as though Benedicto had been placed in a particularly difficult spot to emerge victorious at first asking. The gelding will be meeting track record holders from various points in the Midwest in Shan Pac and Mr. Fantastic, the former being co-holder of Churchills 7 furlongs mark, 1:22, and Detroits 6 furlongs, 1:0925. and 1-16 miles, l:423/5. The latter holds Detroits five-eighths mark in :5735. and certainly one of the quickest horses in the country up to this distance. Strong Point appears the one-to-beat as this five-year-old son of Menow was unlucky to lose his last. The Gentilly color-bearer stumbled and nearly unseated his rider at the start, following which he was rushed into a contending position and as a consequence had nothing left through the final drive. Prior to that he won at the 62 furlongs distance at Keeneland where he defeated allowance company over a slow track in 1:18%. Mr. Fantastic made his seasonal bow closing day at Keeneland and was far from humbled in finishing fifth. The With Pleasure gelding appears to be in top condition and in expected to make his presence felt. Resoh ed must be considered seriously even though he has not been out since mid-January at Hialeah where he finished back of Fabius in a similar test. Last season he was one of the better sprinters in this section and won four of his 12 starts while being pitted against strong rivals. Prince Torch showed that he liked the local track in winning on the second day of the meeting when he defeated 2,000 claiming company with 6 furlongs in 1:11%. While he is stepping up into somewhat better opposition he is not out of it and could well notch his second win of the meeting.
