view raw text
Here and There on the Turf Wise Counsellors Progress. Maryland Classic Candidate. J. S. Cosdens Good Juvenile. Interesting Bowie Sport. The news from Louisville that Wise Counsellor had worked a mile in 1 :45~, should inspire some confidence in the J. S. Ward champion for the big three year old races. There is nothing remarkable in a mile in 1 :45%, except that it is enough to show that the colt is training well for both the Preakness Stakes and th= Kentucky Derby. Up to that time so little had been done with the colt that no real line was available on how he had progressed. That move was far enough to show that he can readily be brought to the top of his form by May. It was also far enough to indicate that he will not find the mile and an eighth of the Preakness Stakes or the mile and a quarter of the Kentucky Derby too great a task. Wise Counsellor went into winter quarters as a two-year-old showing that h? could run a mile better than any other two year-old of 3923 when he won the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, and unless all signs are awry he will race as far as any of the three year-olds this year. As the date for the running of these races Approaches interest increases in all of the candidates for the two 0,000 contests, but there is no eligible at this time that is entitled to more consideration than this same Wise Counsellor. Mr. Mutt and Comic Artist, the two H. C. Fisher candidates, have been doing exceedingly well in th;ir preparation and both are well advanced, but there is no stretch of the imagination that would make either one of them the equal of Wise Counsellor. The colt that has already 6hown his high class, as Mr. Wards candidate has don?, must be placed over those that are only striving for a reputation at this time. While Wise Counsellor is coming up to his engagements in such a satisfactory manner, the colts in the East are also progressing in their preparation in a way that is, to say the least, entirely satisfactory. They have an earlier opportunity to race than has Wise Counsellor and 6ome of the potential eligible? will be 6een under silks before the end of April. That is, those that are destined for racing in Maryland. These have a great opportunity in the Chesapeake Stakes at Havre de Grace, and at this time indications are that the three year-old fixture of the Harford Association will offer a good line on the chances of some of th? candidates for both the Preakness and the Derby. Senator Norris, son of Cudgel and Cypher Code, that races under the colors of H. G. Bcdwells Kenton Stable, at this time is the most notable of the eligibles in Maryland. This good colt, winner of the Walden Stakes last fall at Pimlico, continues to work sensationally and Bedwcll is supremely confident of his chances. The present plan is to start him in the Preakness Stakes and th*n send him to Churchill Downs for the Derby, and Bedwell is hopeful that he will be able to repeat the performance of Sir Barton in 1919, when he was the winner of both races. He is con vinced that in Senator Norris he has a better colt than Sir Barton and, if he is right in that opinion, he indeed holds a strong hand. Though the seasoned horses have had a bit the best of it thus far at Bowie, it is inevitable that before many days the fresh horses from winter quarters will come into their own. They are showing better with each performance and it will be well for the winter campaigners to make hay while the sun shines. These fresh horses will have something on the jaded horses from the winter tracks before many days and they will continue to improve, while in the natural course of events it is to be expected that the winter campaigners will begin to stale off and go back. It is just possible that J. S. Cosden has a good two-year-old in Sombre, the winner of the opening race at Bowie Friday. This filly is a daughter of Crimper and Sackcloth and the character of her victory was impressive. She showed great speed and was really not fully extended in that race. But, of course, it will be argued that she was only meeting selling platers. Morvich began as a selling plater and was unbeaten through his two year-old season. Roamer was raced as a selling plater before he came into his greatness, and many another had a lowly beginning to climb to the championship. All of the Cosden horses that Woods Garth will race at Bowie are on the bargain counter, but it is possible that after her good showing Sombre may be an exception. In any event thould she remain on the sale list her race will be one that should attract a good price. The program of races that was run at Bowis Friday was not much in the matter of good class, but it must be admitted that it furnished real entertainment. There was a woeful lack of good class in the horses that were engaged, but that was to a degree atoned for by the fact that the fields were well matched and the contests were ex citing. After all, that is what counts with the racing crowd. What is most to be desired is well matched fields, with the winner fighting it out. That is what brings the thrill, and more of a thrill than the champion that gal lops in front all the way. Bowie has always furnished a good show and thus far this spring it has been a show that has been fully up to the best traditions of the track.
