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Here and There on the Turf Zev and My Own Again. Staying Qualities Compared. Maryland Handicap Speed. Winter Season Near. It may be that with all its care the committee of the Jockey Club made a mistake in naming Harry F. Sinclairs Zev as the American defender to meet Papyrus. It is just possible that the selection of My Own as the most eligible colt to defend the title over the mile and a half distance would have been a wiser choice. Of course, the committee was in an unenviable position when there was no chance to bring the two candidates for the role of defender together, and "on paper"- Zev had accomplished so much more that he was chosen. In this the committee lost sight of the conditions under which the defender was chosen. These conditions only permitted of the Lawrence Realization and the National Trial Sweepstakes being taken into consideration. On these two races it would have been easy enough to name Admiral Graysons colt over the son of The Finn and Miss Kearney. Undoubtedly there would have been much criticism of such a choice, for Zev by his mighty deeds had raced himself into lasting public favor, and the committee must have been swayed by more than merely the two races which, under the conditions of the big match, were to be taken into consideration. My Own is first substitute for the defender, and at this time he appears to be a better prospect over the mile and a half journey than does Zev, the defender. This estimate was brought home forcibly after Zev had been worked the full mile and a i half over the Belmont Park course, where the International match is to be decided next Saturday. It was the first time that Hildreth had sent his champion the full distance at anything like a trial speed, and the showing of the colt was far from being an impressive one. In all of his races Zev has proved himself a colt of extreme speed, but there has been a question of his stamina over the mile and a half distance. His Lawrence Realization was his best race, but there was evidence in that contest that the distance was a bit farther than he cared to run when it took him 30 seconds to run the final quarter, while the last quarter of the mile and a half of that mile and five-eighths took 27Ys seconds. Zev appears to be in his best condition at this time, but his try-out Sunday, when he covered a mile and a half in 2.37, again told of its being too far for him to show to his best advantage. An analysis of his trial reveab that he "tailed off badly and he certainly had little left at the end of the trial. The first quarter was run in 23 seconds, the second in 24, third in 26 and fourth in 2556. That took Zev to the mile, and it was in the final half that he slowed down miserably when his fifth quarter was run in 28 seconds and the final quarter in 29. There is no sprinting speed in the .early stages of the International race that will take Zev so far away from Papyrus on October 20 that will permit him to slow down to such a pace and still be the winner. Zev is a good colt, but the mile is his best distance, and he will have to improve over his showing of Sunday if he is a capable defender. Hildreth has been training Zev for speed in many of his gallops, and no fault is to be found with his speed. He has all that could be desired, but no amount of training will make him the ideal cup horse. It may be that Zev will be the winner on October 20, and as a matter of fact many good judges laugh at any possibility of his being beaten, but the fact remains that, while this trial of his was distinctly disappointing, there were just as many good judges that were more than favorably impressed with the move of Papyrus, though it was two seconds slower. The intention is to send Papyrus along at a batter pace Tuesday morning, and it is possible that if Jarvis permits him to show real speed there will be a stronger tide of opinion swinging his way. While Zev failed to work as was expected Admiral Graysons My Own continued on his winning way by iaking the mile .and a. quarter race for the Maryland Handicap .at Laurel. Carrying scale weight of 126 pounds he raced the distance in 2:02, and the analysis of the fractions made it a truly remarkable race. The pace was exceedingly fast and the son of King James was abletojun, his last quarter in 2i seconds, a speed that leaves no doubt of his readiness to finish out the mile and a half at a racing pace. In this Maryland Handicap My Own was giving away from eleven pounds to Cherry Pie all the way to twenty-six pounds to Golden Rule. New Hampshire, carrying 110 pounds, cut out a sizzling pace, but My Own was right after him when the first quarter was run in 23 seconds, the second in 23, the third in 25 and the fourth in 26 seconds. Then My Own ran the last quarter in 24 to arrive home the winner. What was particularly impressive was that last quarter, and it is for that reason that the conviction is forced that, after all its care, the committee of the Jockey Club may have named the wrong defender, to meet Papyrus at Belmont Park on October 20. Racing moves to James Buthrs Yonkers track of the Empire City Racing Association Wednesday, and it is the final meeting of the New York season. It has been a tremendously successful season, and the book of the last meeting assures that the sport will be brought to a fitting close for the year in New York. Already most of the stables that contemplate racing through the winter months have made their arrangements; and, in fact, not a few of the stables have already gone to the winter racing grounds to be ready for the opening. One of the popular winter spots is New Orleans, and racing there will begin at Jefferson Park on November 29. There will also be a spring meeting at the same course, which will continue from March 5 to March 17. The big features of the Jefferson Park meeting are the Louisiana Derby, with 5,000 added, and the Thanksgiving and Christmas Handicaps, each with ,500 added.
