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SENSATIONAL DERBY TRIAL HODGE WORKS MILE AND A QUARTER IN 2:05S AT CHURCHILL DOWNS. Work-0ut Is Fastest Ever Recorded in Preparation for Great Three-Year-Old Race at Louisville and Increases Interest in Event to Fever Heat. Louisville. Ky.. May 1.— Old Rosebud will have to look to Ins laurels. As Derby day approaches, tbo great race that is to be run at Churchill Downs May 0 assumes a more open aspect. Today Kay Speuces Hodge worked the fastest Kentucky Derby trial run over the Churchill Downs course in the forty years history of the race. With more than his Derby weight ot 114 iiouuds up, he went the distance of the race, one mile and a quarter, iu 2:05%. and at no |uirt of the performance eould it lie said that he was all out. He went the first eighth iu :11%, the quarter in :23%. three-eighths in :35%, half in :47%. five-eighths in 1 :0 i%. three-quarters in 1:13%. seven-eighths in 1:88%, the mile in 1:30V.-,. and the mile and an eighth iu 1:52%. He pulled up apparently little distressed and cooled out iu fine condition after the performance. Maria C. tried to go with him for the first half and then Osaple cut in. but neither was of any help to him, as he ran away from both with perfect ease. .Manv horsemen witnessed the remarkable trial and were astounded by the easy manner in which it was performed. The superb way in which he cooled out plainly indicated that he is one Derby candidate whose condition can be pronounced absolutely tit. Three other Derby candidates — Belloc, Toronto, and Al Wormwood -had workouts today. Belloc went a half in :51. while Toronto went a mile in 1:45%, and Al Wormwood the same distance in 1:45. The latter worked the last six furlongs f his mile in 1:18%. While Old Rosebud is racing and working well at Lexington, as are Bradleys Choice and Bronze-wing, it would be Impossible for either of them to lie doing bettor in their Derby preparation than Ralph and Hodge are. Lach is doing everything their respective trainers, Pete Coyne and Kay Spence. could ask of them and Ixith will undoubtedly lie tit to run a sensational Derby race. Admirers of Kalph. who have seen him in all his recent trials are not so sure that even with the great speed liossesscd by Old Rosebud, that son of Incle can outrun him when the barrier is raised in the Derby race. Hodge mav not lie able to keep right along with Old Rosebud and Ralph for the first five fur-lougs of the mile and a quarter contest, but he is reasonably sure to be right in their wake and when either or both of them show a sign of weakness it will be to his advantage. Though these three Derby choices are all good mud lierformers, every one is hoping for a fast track on the day of the big race and if such conditions prevail it may tie that a track record for the Kentucky Derby will he hung up this season which vvill stand for years. Certain it is that the field this year will be one of extreme speed. Most of the work outs at the local tracks on Thursday took place at Churchill Downs, it being an off day for fast work at Douglas Park. At both courses, however, the tracks were in good condition. Hodge went a slow seven-eighths in 1:34. running the first half in 51 and the three-quarters in 1:18. Other work-outs were: Kustace — Three-quarters in 1:17%. Ghetto Girl — Three-eighths in 30%. Hardy— Half mile in 50. Last Coin -Half mile in 55. March — Three-quarters in 1:18. Marie C. — Three-eigths in 88%. Mobile Belle — Five-eighths in 1:05. Presumption — Three-eighths iii :;s. Prince llerniis — Half mile in 550-.. Rotimania — Three-eighths in 30%. Verena — Three-quarters la 1:17. Whim — Half mile in 50. F. J. Pons, whose string of horses in charge of trainer William R. Sallee is quartered at Douglas Park iu training for local meetings, has arrived here for the spring season. He is much pleased with the good training condition of the older cracks of his stable. Judge Wright and John Furlong. The latter is being given a sjvecial preparation to meet his engagement in the rich Kentucky Handicap, to which event 0,000 is again added this season by the Douglas Park Jockey Club as the feature race of the opening day of the coming meeting it that track on Saturday, May 2.".. Mr. Pous re IHirts that all his broodmares at his Tennessee farm have f on hid this season with the exception of Tres Joli and O. Co. E.. both of which are due to foal to his horse. Tonv Bonoro. To date he has nine living sucklings, having lost three. He has bred twenty-two mares so far this season, having greatly enlarged his stud since last year. It may lie noted here that Mr. Pons purposes to race the prodiu-e of his Tennessee breeding establishment and he holies in a few years to be able to turn out ■ Derby winner. William Gerst. of Nashville. Tenn.. has under eon-tract an apprentice rider in Newton Troop, who hna applied for a iockoy license and who in his exercise work on horses recently shows promising skill. He •■an ride at 100 pounds or even a shade less. Seymour Veiller has shipped back to the Down* from Lexington his two performers. Mimorioso and the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks candidate. Christophine. which holds the American record of 1:30% for a mile. Unfortunately, the latter was badly cut about the right leg iu her only start a Lexington and the accident has caused considerable swelling just above her knee giving her owner some fear that it mav result in blood-poaaonlag. The mishap occurred in the race iu which she was second to the Kentucky Derby favorite. Old Rosebud, an is said to have been caused by that horse knocking Ivan Gardner against ber at the start.
