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ROYAL JULIAN BEST Reigh Olga Second and Blackwood Third in Feature Race. ♦ — — Bar None, Irish Pal and Golden Racket Race in Disappointing Fashion — Track Slow. LOUISVILLE, Ky., May If.— Kentucky-Derby eligibles were given further opportunity to qualify for their Saturdays engagement in the one mile race, which was the feature of todays program at Churchill Downs. Six three-year-olds, including Reigh Olga and Blackwood, were opposed to racers of more mature years. The winner turned up in Royal Julian, but he had to be urged hard near the end to outstay Reigh Olga and Blackwood. The latter pair finished noses apart. The time of the race — 1:39% — marked a good performance over the dull course, even for the part straightaway mile. The race disposed of any pretentions that might have been entertained for Bar None. Irish Pal and Golden Racket. This trio raced forwardly and figured as active factors for three-quarters of the distance. Thereafter •they dropped completely out of the picture and were far back. Mop Up, too, which has been mentioned as a possible starter and has also served as a work companion for Misstep, was never much in the running. Blackwood and Reigh Olga gave the winner a strong tussle for the purse. Royal Julian had taken the lead when he reached the stretch as a result of saving ground, but he also forced his closest followers wide in an effort to get in the better part of the track. Blackwood suffered here, for he was on the extreme outside. Reigh Olga benefitted by staying close to the inner rail and when Royal Julian made the oth2rs spread, Reigh Olga was enabled to save much ground. He was urged hard in the last sixteenth and just managed to last for second place. Blackwood was sent an additional quarter of a mi!e, finishing the one mile and a quarter in 2:09%, ridden out. Reigh Olga worked to the mile and an eighth post, which he ran in 1 :54%. Blackwood and Reigh Olga both had 105 pounds up. There is still a doubt if Blackwood will go to the post, but even if he does start Saturday, there is a remote prospect of his figuring as a strong factor, unless he improves considerably. Reigh Olga will be roaoled with Reigh Count and the pair will rule pronounced favorites, but the burden will naturally rest on the Hertz colt. Cloudy weather and a dull track prevailed at Churchill Downs during the afternoon, but the sport did not suffer nor did the attendance. The slow track seemed to be to the particular fancy of the Valley Lake Stables . Geo. Groom, with the result that he proved an easy winner over Watch On, Mary Helen and six other sprinters in the opening race. W. Bowden brought him from behind when Continued on twentieth page. ROYAL JULIAN BEST Continued from first page. ready in the stretch and he raced into a lead of three lengths before reaching the finish. Mary Helen, which set the pace to the final three-sixteenth, succumbed to Watch On when making the final few strides. Mul-doon, which found extensive support, began sluggishly and, while he made up ground on the stretch turn, failed to race into a contending position. Relline, which in a former start failed utterly due to being unable to secure a clear course, showed a decided improvement in the second race when he led home a band of eleven other youngsters. He was kept in the center of the course and, showing fine speed, raced past the leaders at the first turn and held the lead to the stretch to win handily from London Rock, with Chicola in third place. Heads apart followed The Doctor, Bos-sie and Golden Colna. The latter named quintet made an interesting contest in the stretch in their effort to land second place. Fire On, which won in his previous start, was again victor, but he gave his supporters considerable concern on this occasion when he raced in last place, with seemingly little chance of extricating himself from close quarters. Garner was finally forced to take him back and race on the outside of the others. He caught up with the leaders just before reaching the stretch turn and soon after wore down Patuxant and won easing up. Patuxant held on gamely and, after shaking off William T., held Profiteer safe. Lady Witt annexed her second consecutive race and turned the tables on French Lass, which led her home in a previous race, when she accounted for the Fern Creek Purse, the secondary feature. She won by a half length from French Lass, which she succeeded in wearing down in the stretch, while Kitty Mullally was third. Sunny Port, after being taken back soon after the start, was raced wide and disappointed by her failure to prove a contender at any stage. A. Abel kept the winner restrained and in near pursuit of French Lass. On reaching the stretch he took the winner over into the best going, while French Lass was allowed to swerve into the deeper footing. Kitty Mullally raced forwardly for the entire race. The winner paid good odds. After being backed to the exclusion of the others, Chatson, from the H. Massey stable, raced to victory by half a length over Edith Gray and seven other platers in the sixth race. The winner went to the front after the first half mile. He had to give his best to meet the stretch challenge of Edith Gray, which distanced Scotland Belle for second. George H. Bull, secretary of the Saratoga Association, and Big Bill Edwards were notable arrivals from New York.
