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TEN TO GO IN THE DERBY CHECKING UP PROCESS AT LOUISVILLE REVEALS STRONG FIELD FOR SATURDAY. Hodge, Surprising and Belloc Work Through Mud at Churchill Downs — First Named in Especially Fit Condition for Struggle. lAHtisvillc, Ky., May 6. — Several of the Kentinky Berby candidates were given trials at Churchill Downs today over a muddy track. llodge went a mile and a quarter in 2:11%. The fractionals: 12. 25. :!7,, 50%, 1:U.;/-,. 1:10. 1:28%, 1:43, 1:56%. He is right tit and will be worked n mile not faster than 1:45 on Friday as his tiual preparation. W. W. Taylor will ride him, as J. N. Camden will not start either Briughurst or Ca-suarina. Belloc went a mile and a quarter in 2:13%. The fractionals: l.tVa. 25%. 38%. 53%, 1:05%. 1:18%, 1:31%, 1:45%. 1:59%. He showed improvement over recent works and it is announced now that ho will be a sure starter, with J. Henry up. Suit. rising went a mile and a quarter in 3:18%. The fractionals: li 24. .T7. 49%, 1:07, 1:18% 1:33%, 1:48, 1:58. Meridian worked the tirst live furlongs with him and then Lost Fortune finished out the trial. He will surely start Saturday with C. Peak tip. Old Rosebud arrived at the Downs from Lcxtagtoa today. He will get his final trial tomorrow. He will be ridden in the Derby by J. McCabe. Others announced as sure sla iters today are Brad leys Choice. J. McDonald: John Cund. 6. Byrne; Constant. K. Martin; Brouzewing. J. Rooney; Wa teruielon. C. Turner: Ivan Cardner, J. Hanover: Old Ben. Denim and Stake and Cap. regarded as most likely to start of the other eligildes, but are doubtful. Yesterday morning Watermelon again worked an impressive Derby trial at Churchill Downs In the heavy track conditions which prevailed there alter Mondays hard rain. She had to run around the "dogs" and while not fancying such going to any extent she went the full Derby distance, one mile and a quarter, in 2:15. pulled up. She went the first eighth in 12%, the quarter in 24%. three furlongs in -O1*. the half in 50. five furlongs in 1:03%, si furlongs in 1:16%. seven furlongs iu 1:31%, the mile in 1:45% and the mile and an eighth in 2:08%. She is surely training well for the big race and undoubtedly will give a good account of herself in the event, which will be part of her preparation for the Kentucky Oaks on the closing day of the meeting at the Downs, Friday. May 22. Belloc again breezed a half in 51%. while Hodge was worked in the afternoon at a slow clip over the full mile and a quarter course. This great rival of old Rosebud is as fit as can be and every time he makes his appearance on the track he gathers a new recruit or so to his standard. While trainer Kay Sponce Ik. pes for a fast track on Derby Day next Saturday, still he has the greatest confidence iu Hodges mud running ability and last night publieally stated that he belived Hodge would defeat Old Itosebud and the rest of the Derby starters. regardless of whether the track is wet or dry. He is fully satisfied that if the going is fast Hodge will surely cover the Derby distance in 2:04 or even better if necessary. There was u..| much work of other horses at the Downs through the mud on Tuesday, the best trials being three quarters in 1:24% by Calley Slave, a half by Gahrlo and Ghetto iirl in 56. and a quarter by Wrinpea and Heidelberg iu 25. The front stretch, over which the latter pair worked, was by far the fastest part of the track. At Douglas Park the going was also heavy and most of the trainers there confined their charges to long, slow cantering exercises. John W. Schorrs horses Weal through their usual routine in tie-mud and Jack Adkiu sent the Mackenzie banana ateag in the same way. One of the most promising maiden three year otda at the local tracks is Patrick, in the stable of Lew Marion. He may not come into his best form until fall, but that he will some day be ranked as a giH.d race horse is regarded by many shrewd .judges as a foregone conclusion. He is a son of Her mis and a brother to Henry Kit to. which died in Kay Spences stable last winter at Juarez. Spenee greatly regretted leatag Henry Bltte, as hi- believed he would have developed into a highly Useful four year old. B. C. Knebelkamp. a local turfman who owned Henry Bltte, made inquiries of trainer Marion yeaterdny as to the price he would ask for Patrick, but the latter said that he did not desire to sell Patrick at present. Mr. Marion thinks his tear year-old Prince llcrinis. will make a good show tag Ibis spring in the Clark Handicap at CknH.hH Downs and the Kentucky Handicap at Douglas Park. He thinks the latter race will just suit him. is the distance i one mile and a quarter. No horse iu training at the local courses is working better than Prince Hermis for his Clark Handicap and Kentucky Handicap engagemenls. Christophine. S. Velilers Kentucky Derby ami Oaks candidate, which was cut in the leg in her race with Old Rosebud at Lexington, is able to be on the track again and has begun to take slow exercise. Being in racing condition it will doubt less Ik? possible now to race her again much earlier than her owner expected a few days ago. as sfii has already been keyed up and I his will obviate the necessity of hard training. Christophine is a popular racer. She holds the American record of 1:36% for a mile. She probably will be ready to start in the Kentucky Oaks. May 22. Trainer George Strate. who arrived here a few days ago with the two year olds of C. W. Clark and Mr-. Joseph Sehreiber. reports that the horses of Danee and Bender, in charge of trainer "Karly" Wright, are still at San Diego. Cal.. where they were shipped at the close of the Juarez meeting. Wright did not inform Strate just what he intends to do with tlie string this spring. He intimated, however, that he might bring the horses to Ken tuckv before shipping them easl to race at Piping Rock, and if he did so he would send them on in time to race several members of the stable here dining the local season. Wright would have entered sono of the Dance and Bender two year-olds in the stakes in Kentucky this spring, but for the fact that they are mostlv of the type of youngsters which develop atowly and do not show their best as two year-olds until late summer or early fall. He has several uimhI prospect* for three-year-olds next season and this firm will enter their best for the Derby races in Kentucky and elsewhere in 1015.
