Fairmount track report

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. - The ability to spot a horse in Chicago who will fit on the southern Illinois circuit is a necessity for most local trainers. Last week, four horses who were claimed in Chicago won here.

Eddie Essenpreis took Will Be a Bates for $15,000 on April 7 at Sportsman's, and in her second local start he scored an allowance victory under Cindy Medina.

Bill Hickam spent $6,000 on Esther Egg on May 31, and last Saturday night he earned $8,400 by winning a three-other-than allowance in his first local start. It was the fifth consecutive win for Esther Egg.

Northern Twinkle was an $18,000 claim May 10 at Hawthorne for trainer Dave Gall. On Sunday she won her local debut against two-other-than competition.

Rural Queen won a two-other-than allowance for fillies and mares Sunday for trainer Teddy Randazzo and owner Nick Randazzo Jr., who had claimed her for $5,000 at Sportsman's on April 1. It was her third Fairmount start.

Some people here, like Russ and Pat Whitworth, still like to raise their own horses, however, and the Whitworths' 8-year-old gelding Multiple Metal has been a success.

Trained throughout his career by Don Kerrone, Multiple Metal won his seasonal bow Sunday against money-allowance competition. It was the 16th win from 45 career starts for Multiple Metal, and pushed his earnings to more than $150,000.