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WESTERN DERBY ELIGIBLES » — Fail to Measure Up to Quality of Eastern Candidates. ♦ Elimination Process Under Way With Eastern Owned Horses Having the Best of It in Actual Racing. v LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 3.— Western Derby eligibles do not seem to be measuring up with eastern candidates in the semi-finals. Every day now sees one or more of the colts or fillies which "have been highly spoken of" by turf critics during the spring training period display a sad lack of quality or training when under colors. The elimination process goes on apace. Last week Dunlin, one of J. S. Cosdens supposed cracks, failed miserably when given the crucial test. He does not seem to be of Derby caliber and it is doubtful whether trainer Garth will pay the freight on him from Maryland to Kentucky. Monday saw one of the highly advertised western colts. Bo McMillan, display mediocre form when he ruled favorite over three other Derby hopes at Iexington. The Pendergast colt finished far back of Nassau. Frederick Johnsons candidate, and Boys Believe Me, one of E. R. Bradleys eligibles. If Mondays performance was a sample of Bo McMillans quality, the opinion is that he doesnt belong in the Derby. It is said, however, that Bo McMillan can do better, especially over a soft course. In the same race Park Hill, P. E. Vicker-mans eligible, showed even worse than Bo McMillan, so that colt is dismissed by the critics from consideration as of Derby caliber. Nassau is probably a good colt. He was that in his two-year-old form, having started seven times and never being out of the money. He won thre? of his starts and was third in four attempts. He is by the French sire Nassovian, from the Isinglass mare Fhilistia, and was bred by John San-ford in England. Monday in Maryland General Thatcher won his second race of the spring season when he beat Vigil at a mile and seventy yards in the Carolina Purse. General Thatcher, however, had but a feather up, ninety-seven pounds, while Vigil carried the same weight. Vigil had previously beaten Dunlin and therefore it makes General Thatchers race appear Continued on twelfth p;ise. . 1 I ■ • • WESTERN DERBY ELIGIBLES Continued from first page. quite good. The race was contested with some good older racers, including Irish Kiss, Southern Cross and Tippity Witchet, to all of which the three-year-olds were conceeding weight. In the Flash Handicap at Havre de Grace two other Derby eligibles failed when Miss Cerina, a speedy three-year-old filly, running in the colors of Montfort Jones, defeated Caladium, nominated for the Derby by J. B. Smith, and Body Guard, another of the E. R. Bradley Derby eligibles. Thus it seems that neither of the beaten Derby colts is of quality sufficient to be considered for Derby honors. Tuesday at Pimlico three prominent Derby candidates met in the Wicomico Purse, at three-quarters, when Tall Timber. Goshawk and Martingale clashed and finished in the order named. While Tall Timber won easily he has had the advantage of two previous races this year, while Goshawk and Martingale were making their first appearance as three-year-olds. It certainly would be r.nap judgment to declare that either Goshawk or Martingale will not do on the strength of that tace. Word came from Lexington of the injury to J. S. Wards Derby candidate Donges. In speaking of the western Derby eligibles Mr. Ward said recently: "I hardly believe there are but one or two really Derby possibilities in the West. I was highly impressed with Anna M. Humphreys race at Lexington in the Ashland Oaks Saturday. While I am not partial to the Peter Quinces over a route of ground Anna M. Humphrey ran the mile rather impressively with her Derby weight up. She won like a good one. with plenty in reserve, and , in time which would do credit to any racer. "If she is not about the best of the western lot. then I am going to miss my guess. I watched her race closely. She seemed to run like every good race filly I ever saw. She lias plenty of speed and seems able to carry her speed, with weight up. over a route. Of course, she had little to beat, but she herself has never been beaten and that alone will make her hard to take. She has plenty of substance and barring mishaps between now and Derby Day she is certain to give a good account of herself." When asked about his own colt Donges. Mr. Ward said: "I dont believe he is quite of Derby class. I saw all the good eastern colts last year and there were several of them could beat Donges every day in the week. Now I dont say that Donges is not a good colt and a game one. too, but he just dont cpiite stack up with a colt like Dodge, as a three-year-old. Dodge. I think, was the best three-year-old this country ever saw. barring Man o War. He worked with Franklin a mile on February 28, of hisearly three-year-old form in 1 :10 flat, like break- lag sticks and I have never heen able to g-t Conges work a mile this spring better than 1:4.". I will say. though, that Donges never would work within many seconds as fast as he would run under colors. I have seen all the Derby eligibles training at Churchill Downs this spring and never has any of them impressed me as being of real Derby timber. Of course. I might be mistaken, but in the long number of years I have been training horses the real good ones have shown more than any of these Derby eligibles have at the Louisville tracks."
