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AFTER JUVENILE HONORS. GEORGE W. LOFTS PAPP IS REGARDED AS BEST IN THE TWO -YEAR-OLD DIVISION. The Whirl, Flash and United States Hotel Stakes Aro Now to tho Credit of This Colt Omar Khayyam Has Edge- Over Thrce-Year-Olds. By J. R. Jeffery. Saratoga, N. Y., August 7. It is quite within the bounds of probability that the best two-year-old of the year, as well as the best three-year-old, was shown to race-goers here Saturday. To begin with, it is generally couceded that Wilfrid Viaus English colt, Omar Khayyam, has fairly earned the right to be regarded as the chamnlou three-year-old of 1917 in America. His victory of Saturday in the Kenner Stakes, in which he was making prodigious concessions of weight to good opposition, served to confirm the high opinion whicli the winning of such races as the Kentucky and Brooklyn Derbys warranted race-goers in entertaining of him. The manner in which he shouldered his exacting impost of 131 pounds and came from behind in real race horse fashion to vanquish the lightweights that had been dominating the running to the stretch won him unstinted praise from old and new admirers alike. It is true that tiiere are some turfmen whoso opinions are entitled to consideration who will believe that August Belmonts good French-bred colt Hourless may prove troublesome to the son of Marco Lisma on a fast track, even though Omar Khayyam has beaten him decisively in muddy going. Omar Khayyam appears not to care one whit what kind of going he is asked to run in, and certainly measures up to the standard of a high-class horse in every particular that is essential. He is a comparatively small horse, with a head resembling a mares rather than one of his own sex. The two-year-old situation, which has - been greatly befuddled since Mr. Belmonts promising colt Lucullite was knocked off the pedestal to which some of his early performances had elevated him, now holds out some signs of clearing, thanks to Papps victory in the United States Hotel Stakes, following closely, as it did, noon his two preceding successes in the Whirl and Flash Stakes. Has an Abundance" of Ganiohess. " - Papps victory particularly impressed some of the more exacting critics, because it was accomplished by running from behind with tho steadying impost of 130 pounds. In most of his preceding races Papp has given the impression that he might be a fast non-stayer, like others of the get of his sire, Peter Quince. But his last two races have shown that he has an abundance of gameness as well as speed of a high order, and there is now a general disposition to regard him as a likely candidate for the seasons honors in the juvenile division. The fact that all three of his recent victories have been achieved under the guidance of such an unfashionable jockey as L. Allen adds to the merit of his claims to consideration in the general opinion. It may be well imagined how happy a man former Congressman George W. Loft was after Papps victory on Saturday. Mr. Loft came into racing solely and purely for sports safce last year. He is not a betting man and he is in the sport simply because of his admiration for the thoroughbred and the enjoyment he can derive from the winning of races. To win such a race as the United States Hotel Stakes does not often fall to the lot of a newcomer on the turf, and he was overwhelmed with hearty congratulations on his good fortune. J. O. Keene, who bred Papp, was hardly less gratified than the owner of the colt. Mr. Keene owns the colts dam, Phebe G., and was happy to announce in reply to inquiries with which he was beset after the race, that she is in foal to his. highly-regarded stallion Luke McLuke. He has no yearling or weanling from her. Max Hirsch, racing manager and trainer for Mr. Loft, bought Papp at last seasons auction sale of the Keeneland yearlings for ,700. Hirsch, who was a capable jockey before he became a successful trainer, was impressed with the appearance of Papp as a yearling, and it must be admitted that his judgment has been amply vindicated. If Papp turns out to be the best two-year-old of the year, no one will begrudge Mr. Loft the pleasure which the possession of such a colt entails. Unablo to Account for Old Rosebuds Showing. Frank D. Weir, who trains Old Rosebud for the Messrs. Applegate and himself, is utterly at a loss to account for that good geldings indifferent showing in the Saratoga Handicap last week. The horse, went to the post in apparently as good condition as ever, and his performance" greatly disappointed his trainer. As he had been racing well over all kinds of tracks, Mr. Weir is disinclined to blame the muddy state of the going for the failure of his horse to do better. Old Rosebud will be given a chance to redeem himself in the Delaware Handicap, one mile, to lie run on Tuesday. He has been doing well since his last appearance. It develops that Imperator was suffering with an abscess of the nostrils when he ran his disappointing race last week. The trouble was not discovered until Saturday. The layers who are quoting odds at the Saratoga Associations track have been cautioned by the management of the track to be circumsoect in their transactions. Notice has been given that the letter of the law must be strictly observed. Any who oversteps the bounds will be summarily dealt with, the track management has let it be known. The layers have been particularly warned against the conspicuous display of money in making settlements of wagers. Last year some of the layers who quoted odds here were inclined to take liberties, and it is to forestall the repetition of such a condition that the warning referred to has been issued. Secretary A. McL. Karlocker is fortunate in having the assistance of two such capable officials in the racing department at the track as Fred Reh-berger and Victor K. Schaumberg, both of whom have had long experience as racing secretaries in the cast. W. P. Spurgeon, managing editor of the McLean newspapers in Washington, D. C, is among the recent arrivals and will remain to enjoy the racing for a time. Mr. Spurgeon acts as steward at the Bowie track each spring and fall. E. D. Kaufman was an arrival from the Pacific coast Saturday. He reports that the Tijuana track is being resoiled and that the turns are being thrown up on the outside. He plans to return to Sau Diego at the end of the month to take up some horses he will race iu the west.
