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+ . — — __+ I | RECORD AND PEDIGREE OF A HIGHLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATE l FOR KENTUCKY DERBY HONORS I + — — 4. Now- that it seems settled that War Cloud is to lie sent to Louisville to take his part in the Kentucky Derby, a doubtful point is cleared tin and a formidable rival of Kseoba and Sun I.riar adds to the steadily growing interest in the race. In last years racing it may Ik- said that neither Sun Briar nor Kseoba ran a single race as good as that of War Cloud when, with 125 pounds on his back, he won the Walden Stakes at Iimlico last fall and ran its mile in 1:40=,. That race stainis-d him a stayer. He wintered healthily and his work this spring iu conditioning him for racing has been flawless. No horse eligible to start in tin- Kentucky Derby has better racing credentials than War Cloud and none is more likely to win it. War Cloud was not hurried last year and was only started iu six races, four of which he won, running second iu another and unplaced in one. His lirst start was in a purse race at Saratoga. August 22. Ke-|M rts of his prowess were public property and served to make him a Ii to 5 favorite over twelve opponents. The distance was five and a half furlongs and, running it in 1:05%, he won easily by three lengths, with Debadon second and Matinee Idol third. It was an excellent display of speed, so, when on August 27. he made his appearance in another purse race, lie figured as a 2 to ." favorite and, with J. Loftus and 117 pounds in the saddle, was an easy winner by two lengths, with Top Coat second and Buth Law third, seven running unplaced. The distance was again five and a half furlongs aud he covered it in l:07/5 over a slow track. So far he had raced like a good colt, which he was and is. His third race was the one in which he was unplaced. He had good company in the same predicament. This was in the Ho|H-ful Stakes, richest prize of the American turf. With eighteen starters, those getting away iu the rear could have but little chance, unless lucky in securing favorable openings. War Cloud was not lucky and probably ran. at least as good, a race as did the winner, Sun Itriar. Off eleventh, he was shulDed farther back in the early running, but finally managed to get a chance to run freely and put in his work to such good puriiosc that he filially landed iu sixth place aud only beaten four lengths. His next adventure was in the forty-eighth running of the Nursery Handicap, a dash of three-quarters straight, at Belmont Bark. September 13. In this Jack Hare Jr. carried 123 pounds to his 122 and beat him a neck, with War Cloud gaining with every stride. Lady Dorothy, with 100 |K unds up, was third, the unplaced ones being I-anius, Kiililadc. Matinee Idol, Stitch in Time. Bughouse, Sold Tassel and Bautry. Then he was taken to laurel and there, on Octolicr 4. won the Amia| olis Stakes, at three-quarters in 1:13%. In this he had allowances that made his weight but 115 pounds to 122 on Jack Hare Jr. They were equal choices in the betting and War Cloud won by a length from Jack Hare Jr., the latter finishing ten lengths in advance of Matinee Idol, with Happy Go Lucky, Masda and Ultima Thtile unplaced. This was, iu all respects, a good race for both of the two leaders. His last race and his best one took place at Iimlico, Novemlior 10. iu the Walden Stakes, at a mile. For this the starters were War Cloud, 125 pounds; Tippity Witchet, 127; Jack Hare Jr., 130; The Porter. Nep|H-rliaii, Kashmir, Wyoming aud War Machine. 117 each: Lady Dorothy and Ballvmooney, 114 each; avail Boy. 113. and Col. "luff. 107. The redoubtable Tippity Witchet was the favorite for this race and battled for it like the gallant little warrior of the track he was, but War Cloud came at him in the stretch and. pausing him after a sharp struggle, won easing up by a length and a half, Tippity Witchet finishing about the same distance before The Iorter. Jack Hare Jr. was in the thick of the fray for three quarters, but his heavy weight grew too oppressive and he finally finished a weary sixth. Weight carried considered. War Clouds time of 1:40% marked a noble race, indeed. War Clouds pedigree is more suggestive of ability to stay well over a long distance of ground than that of Sun Briar. The hitters sire, Sundridge, was a great sprinter and most of his progeny, while endowed with brilliant sliced, were best over sprinting distances. There were, of course, exceptions, a shining example being Sunstar, which won a great Derby while finishing on three logs. But the sons of Polymelia are Is-yond reproach as stayers and no suspicion of lack of stamina attaches to War Cloud. Iu all the elements of his breeding he is of the elect. Whether he wins the Kentucky Derby or not. his feats as a two-year-old suggest a triumphant career iu general this year and probably afterwards. His record and iH-digret- are as follows: Year. A£e- Sts- l8t -,1U 3rd- tnp. Won. 1D17 - ■ 4 ■ ° 1 ,2»2 Bend Or J Doncaster I Bona Vista I Rouge Rose , „ I Vista j Macaroni f tylleue J , Verdure Isonomy Sterling I . Arcadia J Isola Bella / Distant Shore Hermit f lolymelus , Lands End . i Lord Clifden Newniinster - I f Hampton I The Slave 1-5" ... I Lady Langdcii Kettledrum g L Maid Marian.. I t Haricot q" I 1 Toxophilite . Longbow Bat j I Quiver J f Igerdeniain O" j / Daughter of Young Melbourne H5 •! Brown Bess 5 I I Ualopin J Vedette ft.- j I ,-■»«. St. Simon I Flying Duchess t £ f *«*- " ! I «■ *■* 1 AdeUne "U £ Hampton Lord Clifden 1 •- 1*1 111 II * I-aily Iingden 3 ! I Hermoine 011ng Melbourne B Dreamy I Ii Belle Helc-ne Mttncaster J Doneastor f Saraband . ■ Windemcre Rousseaus j Highland Fling. . . J Scottish Chief l Dream i ♦ Masquerade j Hermit J New -minster L lleloise J I Seclusion Devotion t Stockwell I Alcestis
