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GOSSIP AND COMMENT FROM SARATOGA Tho New York Sun prints the following interest ¬ ing comment under a Saratoga date of Saturday last lastWith With half the meeting gone there is no diminu ¬ tion in the interest in the races here in fact the sport lias been Improving steadily in quality with every day that the bugle has called the horses to the post It lias been a matter of surprise how the eastern twoyearolds have risen to the occasion and liuw youngsters which were considered of med ¬ iocre quality while racing at Belmont Park have come on in the two weeks they have been here so that now the westerners find they have no walkover when the twoyearolds are brought out to do battle in the stake events eventsThe The courage shown by Harry Payne Whitney s Pennant which Taced a tried campaigner Strom boll into defeat on his first start is the talk of all oldtimers and though Mr Belmouts jockey claimed that his mount was interfered with there is no doubt in the minds of practical horsemen that Strom boll met his master in Pennant The best proof that Pennant is game to the core was provided in the run through the stretch when Stromboli by Having ground on the turn drew up on even terms with the green racer Wolfe the rider of the Whit ¬ ney colt gave his mount a sharp touch with the whip Under this trial most green racers swerve but Pennant bounded straight ahead in response and the race was over from that moment momentThe The success of Pennant gives a great boost to bis sire Peter Pan which is booked to be sold at the ilispersal sale of the horses of the late James H Keene in Madison Square Garden on September 2 There Is no question now that there will be spirited rivalry for the son of Commando and Cin ¬ derella which In addition to being a great racer already has proved his ability to transmit speed to his progeny Until Pennant showed such magnificent form tho general opinion among horsemen here was that Uncle to be disposed of at the sale of the horses owned bv the late Charles Kohler would be the star of the many thoroughbred stallions to be sold this fall Now there is considerable speculation as to which of these promising young sires will bring the highest price and there would be no sur ¬ prise if the more fancied of the two reached near tho 100000 mark Peter Pans stock rose even higher at the end of the week when Crossbun running in the colors of August Belmont won the Kentucky Selling Stakes Crossbun is by Peter Pan Lucy Cross and the race on Thursday was her second success of the meeting She showed un ¬ doubted quality and it is unfortunate that she is not eligible for more stakes here hereSo So fnf as Uncle is concerned Old Rosebud and Little Nephew have put the seal on his fame as a sire and ujitil Pennant flashed on the scene It was the impression that the buyer of the son of Ogden would be on the high road to controlling the best of the young stock in this country The racing here for the remainder of the meeting may have a further inllucnce on the coming sales but at the present there is a feeling of satisfaction that both Peter Pan and Uncle have been returned to this country to enrich the thoroughbred industry industryThough Though great strides have been made toward settling the question of supremacy there are still several interesting tilts scheduled for the young ¬ sters and even the Futurity set for August 30 the original date for tho close of the meeting will not be the climax of the Important contests in this division The special race arranged for Labor Day will it is believed now bring together all those who have tiny pretensions to first class and the Weights will be arranged so that every one will have a chance to win winThe The original field of seven may be increased be ¬ fore the day the latest candidates for the event being August Belmont Flitaway and E F Coon eys Punch Bowl In the recent workouts of the Belmont youngsters it is said Flitaway has run away from the others In the stable Including Strom boll which had bis colors lowered by Pennant Flit away is by Fair Play Fllttermouse and she has not raced since the Astoria Dinner Stakes at the early part of the Belmont Park meeting when she collided with Early Kose and came out of the race with a bad knee Punch Bowl according to his owner did not get a chance to run his race in the Saratoga Special last Saturday as be was pinned iu for most of the way When be did get clear sailing lie made up a lot of ground and finished fourth close up to the placed horses The others booked for the special feature on Labor Day are Old Rosebud Pennant Little Nephew Stromboli Gainer Southern Maid and Koamer KoamerThe The race for the Futurity is simplified by the success of Pennant but there is a possibility that Harry Payne Whitney has even a more formidable candidate in his stable in the unnamed colt by Voter Harpsichord It seems hard to believe that this untried youngster can be a greater racer than the latest marvel trainer Itowc has sent to the post but stories sire rife to the effect that this colt has l een going great guns and it is possible that he may get his first race next week Witli Old Rose bud not among the eliglbles the only serious oppo ¬ sition from the Invading forces must be expected from Southern Maid which arrived here yesterday to put on the finishing touches for the event The Canadians are sweet on tint chances of tin daughter of Plaudit and Aunt Sallie and there is no doubt that she is speedy That she call defeat Pennant however the general run of horsemen hero do not lielieve Boots and Saddle once considered a factor is eliminated He was a disappointment in his first race here and E K Bradley the owner of tho Voter Cap and Bells colt announced yesterday that he would not l e a starter Boots and Saddle was taken sick while racing in Canada and was light in Ilesh when lie went to the post for hi race here It remains to be seen what Flitaway will do but the latest report that this filly worked half a tnilo in 40 seconds IB an indication that she mav prove the real thorn in the side of Pennant PennantThe The only disturbing feature of the racing here has been provided by the jockeys The Wilsou casts brought the riding division into public notice and not with any credit to the lads Avho pilot the horses in their races There is scarcely a stable of any prominence which has not its own trouble with the rider and in most cases the boys are to blame Thcrf MSinH to be a desire on the part of the present day knights of the pigskin to return to tho habit of jockeys of tin Tod Sloan type and ninny if the lads are entirely too Idg for their shoes That this will be stamped out In short order is the indication as the owners are working hand In hand with HIP stewards of the Jockey Club to keep the jucktys Ju line
