view raw text
: Report From Mexico City S. America Imports DominateHandicap By GAY DALTON HTPODROMO DE LAS AMERICAS, Mexico City, May 14. Four South American imports dominate the pre-race calculations for Saturdays 5,000 Handicap de las Americas, the richest attraction on the Hiprodomos stakes schedule. The Americas is expected to attract 12 starters from the original list of 42 nominees, with Cuadra Carrusels Chilcal, Cuadra Tepe-yacs entry of Fol and Gran Musico, and Rancho Refugios Comite heading the array. Chilcal, an Argentinean import, and Fol, bred in Chile, will be the starting: highweights under 120 pounds. Argentina will also be represented by Comite while Gran Musico, like his running mate, is from Chile. Cuadra, Xalapas Nibelungo, a Kentucky-bred three-year-old by Turn-to, and Cuadra Leos Lea-B. pose the most serious challenge to the South American foursome. Nibelungo, winner of the Mexican Derby here recently, seems to improve with every race. The mile and one-eighth distance of the Americas would seem to be idea for him. He is a game colt, having displayed good courage in coming on again, after appearing to be beaten, to nip Lea-B. in the Derby. Nibelungo will carry 115 pounds, four more than Lea-B. Gran Musico, who surprised the experts by capturing the Handicap Gay Dalton at a mile and one-sixteenth on May 2, will carry 117 pounds. Comite, who is not a sound horse, has been assigned 112. Trainer Lowell Ellis, brother of ex-rider George Ellis, left for North of the Rio Grande with a carload of James McHugh racers. Ellis and his charges are headed for Centennial Park. Veteran actor George Raft and leading man Guy Madison, making a picture in Mexico City, have been out to the Hipodro-mo a few times and are always found by Continued on Page Ten M e x i c o By GAY DALTON Continued from Page Nine autograph hunters. .Also enjoying the races in the Jockey Club Mexicano, some members of the Holiday on Ice troupe, now appearing at the new Arena Mexico. y Breeding activities in Mexico, on the upgrade since the return of racing to Mexico in 1943, will reach a new high this year, both in quantity and quality. Rancho EI Refugio reports the first crop of Don Rebelde, on of the best racers seen here, is doing fine at San Juan del Rio, in the state of Queretaro, while trainer Claudino Hernandez, in charge of Cuadra San Luis, reports that Ruler-ship, bought by owner-breeder Carlos Gomez from Mrs. John D. Hertz as a stud prospect, is responding well. The strap- . ping black son of Nasrullah should be a valuable addition to the local stud ranks. At Justo Fernandez nursery in Eche-garay, a 10-minute drive from the track, Irani," an Irish Import, and Free America, imported from California, are fulfilling their engagements, while W. L. Sickle, bought by Gustavo Zepeda Carranza in California, has his book full for this season. Half Penny II., an Argentinean who won the Handicap de las Americas for Cuadra Xalapa in 1956,. is starting his first season at stud at Rancho Vitala, owned by Mrs. Consuelo Pani. Hold On II., another Handicap de las Americas winner, and also imported from Argentina, already had a season at stud last year, but was returned to training this season. However, after a few .races he went bad again, and should be retired permanently. Owner-trainer Guillermo Gracida, a member of the internationally famous polo-playing Gracida Brothers, left for England and the Continent with Bother Cano. The Gracidas werevinvited last year to play with European teams and their success brought the return to the Old World for the coming season. ! J ;
