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* * WINNER OF LAST YEARS BROOKLYN HANDICAP AND FAVORITE AGAIN THIS YEAR * * Celts sensationally good mile and a quarter work In 2:07% at Sheepshead Bay. Monday, following his easy victory in the Jockey Club Weight for Age Race at Belmont Park last week, will have the effect of Rending him to the post at Gravesend this afternoon as pronounced a favorite as the Brooklyn Handicap has had in years. That Celt is a really great horse and that he will be able to carry top weight to victory today in brilliant style is the consensus of expert opinion on the eastern tracks. The wonderful resources of James R. Keenes notable racing establishment are strikingly illustrated by Its ability to spare such grand horses as Colin and Ballot for racing abroad and yet retain such stars as Celt. Maskette and Hilarious for track service In this country. Two years ago Mr. Keene made no secret of his lielief that Celt was nearly, if not quite, the equal of the unlieaten Colin. While Colin was sweeping everything liefore him as a two-year-old. Celt was forced to play second fiddle and not until late In the season was Celt allowed to verify the reports of his prowess that had been current. This was in the Flat- bush Stakes, at Sheepsheud Buy. Septemlier 7. Colin won by three lengths, covering the seven furlongs of the race ill 1:24%, but Celt was second under restraint and six lengths before Bar None, with Firestone. Meelick. Johnnie Blake and Chapulteiiec unplaced. This was sufficient to show that In case of accident to Colin Mr. Keene still held command of the two-year-old situation with Celt. In confirmation he was started alone iii the Junior Championship Stakes, at Gravesend. Septemlier 22. ami won easily over a heavy track from Incle. Meelick and Firestone. That was all the racing that fell to him when a two-year-old. but his wav of running, appearance and evident adaptability to all sorts of going made turfmen In general think Mr! Keene was right in placing him "nearly. If not quite, as good as Colin." Celts racing opportunities as a three-year-old were as limited as those of his previous season, but for a different cause. As a thrcc-yf-ar-old he went into eurly retiremeut because of the spreading of a hoof at the verv outset of what promised to be a brilliant campaign. He started but twice and won twice. His first start was for the Jockey Club Weight for Age Race, at Belmont Park. May 28. In this he defeated Jack Alkin and Dorante, set the pace all the way and ran the mile and an eighth of the race in 1:52. His i.ext and only other start was in the Brooklyn Handicap, in which at the finish the first four were three-ytur-olds. Celt carried 100 pounds and won comfortably by n length and a half from Fair Play. 99. he a half length liefore Master Roliert. 95. and the latter lupiied out by King James, 98. The race was run in 0-041. ., now record for the Gravesend track. The subsequent racing of Fair Play. Master Robert and King .lames was such as to make the surpassing excellence of Celt stand out commandingly. He was heavily engaged and but for the accident that retired him would probably have made a clean sweep of the rich stakes that fell to Fair Play and other horses that profited by his absence from training. . The long rest which Celt enjoyed in the interim following his enforced retirement last year and his reappearance this spring completely overcame the effects of Ihe ailment which necessitated his withdrawal from training and he is today 1111 absolutely sound horse. That he will prove to be the horse ot the year on the American turf is freely predicted. The record of Celt and his pedigree are as follows: Year Age. Sts. 1st. 2nd. 3rd. Unp. Won. 1.M17 2 2 1 1 0 0 S 6.425 V»0s 3 2 2 0 0 0 22.540 35 4 1 X • • ° 600 Totals 5 ■ 1 0 0 9,405 1 i * . I i , I
