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"■"•"■"""■"Trx* T w*~l A TT TT ■ ■ %* T --*4*- ■ ■ « « ■! ■! ■ ■ mm mm a-m.r a-m.r a a /« /« S S m m ■ ■ j j ■ ■ n n m m / / / / kKX kKX JLS JJi. VA-* A. VJLCTL JL/ * /JL-/ JL %jl / /jBMSk. "■"•"■"""■"Trx* T w*~l A TT TT ■ ■ %* T --*4*- ■ ■ « « ■! ■! ■ ■ mm mm a-m.r a-m.r a a /« /« S S m m ■ ■ j j ■ ■ n n m m / / / / kKX kKX JLS JJi. VA-* A. VJLCTL JL/ * /JL-/ JL %jl / /jBMSk. j times, won four, second three, unplaced seven and earned 6,030. captured the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, Walden Handicap, was second on the Eastern Shore Handicap and Belmont Futurity. Speedy, grrae and every inch a race horse, Reigh Count is the logical favorite for the Derby, and nothing has happened in his training at Churchill Downs this spring to change the high opinion in which Mrs. J. D. Hertz colt is held by the public and experts alike. Anita Pea body, also owned by Mrs. Hertz, Anita Pea body, also owned by Mrs. Hertz, is included in division Xo. 1 simply because she has not been declared out of the Derby, though her owner announced at the time of entry she would not be a starter unless something unforeseen occurred. She was the champion two-year-old filly of 1921 and the largo: t money winner of the year, with 11,-M6 to her credit. She started seven times, won six, third once, and included among her triumphs a glorious victory in the Belmont Futurity. Her other BUCCtSSts were in the Debutante Stakes, Joliet Stakes and Tomboy Handicap. Strolling Player is the English-bred colt imported to this country by Adas. Cary T. Grayson at a reported cost of 1928.sh0,000. This chestant son of Grand Parade — Commedienne, and thereby a half brother to Call Boy, the Epson Derby winner of last year, is, according to excellent judges of horseflesh, one of the best horses of racing r.ge and sound that has been brought to this country in years. He won two out of three starts as a two-year-old in England and, though beaten recently in his American debut at Havre de Grace, when he finished second to the speedy McLean racer Jock, everyone who witnessed that contest were much impressed with the tnain r in which the foreign-bred colt fin- tontinued on seventeenth page. i i i ] . i | I I [ | , . I . r . . PROBABLE DERBY WINNER Continued from first page. ished the last eighth of a mile, indicating that at the Derby distance he may be difficult to beat. Friday at Havre de Grace, Strolling Player added to his reputation by defeating Toro in a sensational nose finish, that attested to his gameness, as well as speed. Brooms is a son of Broomstick — Sir Martin, which races for the Brookmeade Stable of Mrs. George Sloane, trained by Gwyn Tompkins. He won the Hopeful Stakes as a two-year-old with such as Victorian and Nassak following him home. In the Hudson Stakes Brooms was third to Dice, Scotch and Soda, while Distraction and Nassak showed the way to him in the Flash Stakes. Again in the United States Hotel Stakes, he finished third to Nassak and Sun Edwin. Altogether, he was unplaced three times in seven starts. Brooms debut this year was at Havre de Grace April 24, when Petee-Wrack beat him in the Admiration Purse, the Broomstick colt leaving the impression that he will be ready for the Preakness, for which he is being pointed, and his showing in which will reveal what chance he may have in the Derby. He is in excellent hands, and the Broomstick blood may tell. Petee-Wrack is one of the most widely discussed colts entered in the Derby. Until April 24 this year he was a maiden and there were many before that date who believed that he would duplicate the feat of Sir Barton, the only "maiden" to win the Derby. Alas that opportunity is gone, for Petee-Wrack won his first race last Tuesday at Havre de Grace. As a two-year-old Petee-Wrack had an unique record. Although defeated eight times in as many starts, he was second four times and some of the best two-year-olds of 1927 followed him home on those occasions. In the Pimlico Futuuty he was second and such as Bateau, Reigh Count, Sun Meddler. Diavolo, Oh Say and Nixie finished after him, as did Vito, Sun Edwin, Groucher, Brooms and others in the Belmont futurity, in which Petee-Wrack was fourth to Anita Pcabody, Reigh Count and Victorian. In the Walden Handicap he was second to Reigh Count, surrendering to the latter right at the finish of the mile, which was run in 1:41. Though unable to win last year, Petee-Wrack gave evidence that he possessed more than ordinary quality and none of the gentlemen behind the different "future books" on the Derby took any great liberty with this colt. His graduation from the maiden class last Tuesday will undoubtedly boost his Derby stock considerably and he will not lack admirers for the Preakness, in which it is said he will be a starter before trying for Kentuckys famous race. Strange, indeed, would be any discussion 1 of Derby candidates without including representatives of the II. P. Whitney stable. However, this year less has been said about i the Whitney Derby eligibles than has been the case for a decade or so. Mr. Whitney named twelve for the 1928 Derby, and of the dozen Victorian and Groucher apptar best. Victorian is a bay colt by Whisk Broom II. — Prudery, a brother to Whiskery, which won ! the Derby for Mr. Whitney last year. Victorian won four out of six starts as a two-year-old. finishing second in the Hopeful [ and third in the Belmont Futurity on the two occasions he was beaten. Groucher, another son of Whisk Broom II., from the mare Calamity Jane, started fifteen times last year, won four races, was second in three and third v: a similar number. He won the National Stallion race, was second in the Great American and Belmont Juvenile and third in the Kecne Memorial Stakes.. On last years form the hope of another Whitney success in the Derby apparently depends on Victorian. Among the prominent eastern candidates for the Derby is Sortie, by On Watch — Kipp, owned by A. C. Schwartz and trained by Max Hirsch. Sorties victory in the Endurance Handicap at Bowie last all was one of three triumphs in five starts and stamped him as a colt of much promise. He was second in his other two starts as a two-year-old and is considered a dangerous candidate lor the Churchill Downs classic. E. B. McLean has five entries for the Derby. Four of these are by his good sire The ; Porter, and Toro looms up as the most promising of the quartet, though for a time during the winter Time Maker appeared a I colt of superior quality. Toro was a busy two-year-old last year, starting eighteen times, and was unplaced 1 but thrice, winning six races, finishing second i in seven and third in two, accounting for ?35,-. St.", a meritorious record indeed. Among his successes were the Queen City Handicap and the Cincinnati Trophy, while he was second in the Chicago Heights Handicap and third in the Endurance Handicap. Toro gained much prestige when he accounted for the Queen City Handicap, at a I mile, in 1:40 y5 over a slow track, with Black -. wood, Misstep, Golden Racket, Cartago. Ty-i phoon, Gold Handle, Mickey D, Noble Wrack, Vito. Martie Flynn, Happy Time and Crestwood following him home. In this race lie gave every indication that distance, track conditions or weight will have no terrors for , him. His 192S debut was made at Havre de Grace Friday, when he finished second to I Strolling Player in a sensational finish, being beaten by a nose after a spectacular per-■ formance. Subsequent happenings between now and ill Derby Day may bring about a change In the I j estimation of the above Derby candidates, which we have placed in the first division. Later we will discuss the Derby eligibles placed in the second division, and follow that up with a review of such others as may Le classed as "outsiders" or "dark horses."
