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JOHNSON BACKS ROSEBEN. SAYS "THE BIG TRAIN" WILL WIN THE METROPOLITAN HANDICAP. a Sewell Is Best Liked of the Three-Year-Olds — McCarter Furnishes Line on J. C. Core — Tanya May Be Added. New York. .May S. — At Jamaica today the prospects for the Metropolitan Handicap and the opening at Belmont Park tomorrow was of greater interest than the sport at hand, although the card was one of the best of the meeting. The probable starters for the Metropolitan were awaited with feverish ;inieiy. for M race has attracted more ante post interest than tin- Belmont Park fixture. There was mime surprise that qnly thirteen horses were named and genuine disappointment that Tanyas name was not among them. The Whitney mare has been looked upon not only as a sure starter, but as a decided factor in the contest. It is considered highly probable that she will be added tomorrow with C. Koerner to ride. That the race should t»e a sparkling contest is agreed upon by all and moreover it is a decidedly open one. At least a half dozen of the starters must be given a good chance to win. The Johnson — Sullivan — Farrell crowd are confident of success with Roselien. They make no secret of their belief that the big sprinter is better than ever before in his career. Mr. Johnson already has taken 3 to .1 for ,000; Dick Doggett laying 1907.sh,000 to ,000 and Billy I»u Bois. ,000 to ,000. The price was then cut to 11 to 5. and 2 to 1. With Tanya out, Bosel en is sure to be the opening favorite and the following of the owner and his friends will send him to the post at a short price. Sewell Is the choice of the three-year-olds, but .1. C. Core must not be overlooked. McCarters good performance in the handicap, which closed todays card, will give his patty a good line on J. C. Core. McCarter, out for the first time, ran a smash ing race, winning at five and a half furlongs in 1:07 over a slow track and was running away from fast ones at the end. If J. C. Core is as unich Letter than McCarter. as his trainer believed him to be last year, he would seen to possess an excellent chaaee with ninety-eight l ounds to carry and Walter Miller to ride him. Daudelion was. ao -urding ta reports, given a careful preparation before he left Beiiuing and is a lit horse. Tokalon showed to be in such good eon. dition in her only outing as to bring her a big following ami ii will not be surprising to -see her or Dandelion win. Much will depend on the way the race is run. Roseben and I lie three year olds will undoubtedly make the running and if they maintain a uigh rate of s|Ked. one of the older horses named will about get the money. From present indications the track will be in the best of condition. The weather was clear today, though a trifle cool. If the same conditions rule tomorrow a tremendous crowd will be out for the running of the race. The following are the jo-keys who have been en gaged to ride in the Metropolitan Handicap and the odds with which Sol Lichtenstein will oi eu his book tomorrow: Horse. Wt. TldlJ Odds. Roselien 121 J. Martin 2,1 Sewell loo Brussel 0-1 •I- C. Core kS Miller si Superman 100 Notter S-l Dandelion 119 Kadlkc H» 1 Bat Mastersoii 93 Preston lo-l Tokalon 115 Booker 12 1 Olorincr 110 Garner 15-1 W. H. Carey lis Kuapi l.vi Nealou .14 Dngan 4 i-l Dishabille 116 Farrow .-,0-1 Blandy Ill Mountain 99-1 Zlenap 94 Shilling 100-1 The favorites were mowed down today. McCarter in the dosing race, saving the talent from a whitewashing. Met alter is a much improved horse in appearance and look- like making a sprinter of considerable merit, though for that matter he may go any route. His party was very sweet on him today and backed him heavily. Halifax, as usual, acted meanly at the post. He showed speed, but never looked like beating McCarter. Flip Flap made her debut today and went the way of the other supimsed stars. She was a hot favorite, but 120 pounds anchored her early. With two big stake races, a probably slow, but soft track, any amount of excitement attending the decision of the Metropolitan Handicap and Meh good horses as Saraceucsi a. .lack Atkin. Horace E. : George Considinc. Seymour Beutler. Master Robert; Roseben. J. C. Core, Dandelion; Grandpa, Fallaheen. Dulcian; Pins and Needles, Dario, Muck Rake; Onatas, Keator and Quinn Brady among the entries, racing will begin at Belmont Park tomorrow with every advance indication of a monstrous attendance.
