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DERBY CONTENDERS o Nineteen Probable Starters If Churchill Downs Track Is Fast ■ The Choctaw, Ervast, Boris and Two of Three Da Farms Candidates Doubtful — Folking Displays Fine Speed in Final Trial for Race , * LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 15.— If a fast track prevails a field of nineteen, with! a chance that if may be an even score, will vie for honors in Saturdays fifty-fifth, running of the Kentucky Derby. Such was indicated from the intentions of the trainers of the many candidates, as learned here this morning, and from like sources it was ascertained that seventeen or eighteen will start in the race if the course is in a muddy or otherwise adverse condition. The field of starters over a fast track will be made up of the following: Blue Larkspur, Bay Beauty, Clyde Van Dusen, Naishapur, The Nut, Voltear, Windy City, Minotaur, Paraphrase, Essare, Caicatie, Karl Eitel, Lord Braedalbane, Upset Lad, Folking, The Choctaw, Calf Roper, Panchio, Double Heart or Prince Pat, Boris and Ervast. Regardless of track conditions all but the Audley Farm Stables The Choctaw, Baron Longs Ervast, Harned Brothers Boris and two of the Three D*s Stock Farm trio — Panchio, Double Heart and Prince Pat, are positive starters. Both The Choctaw and Ervast will not, under present plans, go to the post for the one mile and a quarter race if the track is other than at its best. Boris is a doubtful starter under any conditions, and while trainer Durnell, of the Three Ds Stock Farm Stable, has definitely decided that Calf Roper is to be one of the stables representatives, he has not determined which of the trio, made up of Panchio, Double Heart and Prince Pat, shall assist the Louisiana Derby winner. Walter Fenwick, trainer of Baron Longs Ervast, was authority for the announcement that the son of Paicines will not be sent to the post unless the course is in a fast condition. Fenwick is of the opinion that the colt exhibited every sign of distaste for the muddy footing in his race Tuesday. The Choctaw is not regarded as suited by a wet or heavy track by Kay Spence, his trainer, and it is the latters intention that the son of Rouleau shall start only if conditions are satisfactory. TRAINERS SATISFIED. Trainers of the colts and geldings regarded as certain starters, joined in expressing satisfaction over the condition of their hopefuls, all of which had concluded more exacting preparation for the race today. Panchio, Calf Roper and Boris were under colors during the afternoon, while Minotaur, Voltear, Fo.king and The Nut were given testing workouts. The latter trio had their final long workouts during the morning and each was sent over the Derby distance. Of the three, H. T. Archibalds Folking showed to best advantage, traversing the distance in the good time of 2 :15. He appeared well suited by the muddy track and under an impost calculated to equal his Derby weight of 126 pounds, was never fully extended as he finished his trial. Trainer George Arvin sent him to the track with The Nut, the Warm Stables candidate here in charge of trainer Joe Notter. The Nut, regarded by trainer Notter as not being a good worker, was under pressure to complete the one mile and a quarter in 2:15%, Folking slowly drawing away from the son of Mad Hatter in the final half mile. Going on even terms, they ran the first quarter in :25%, and after finishing a half-mile together in :52%, Folking gained a slight margin over The Nut during the next quarter to complete three-quarters in 1:18%, while The Nut was timed in 1:18%. Running the next quarter in :28%, Folking reached the mile post two lengths in advance of The Nut, the formers time for the mile being 1:46%, while The Nut went the distance in, 1:47%. During the run through the main stretch, the last quarter of their work, Folking drew farther away from The Nut and, leading the latter by four lengths at the close, finished in 2:15, the final quarter being run in :2S%, as against :28% for The Nut, which 1 ran the distance in 2:15%. The invaders worked around the "dogs,"- which forced them to take a course fifteen feet from the inner rail, but over a part of 1 . Continued on twentieth page. DERBY CONTENDERS Continued from first page. the track which may have had a trifle firmer bottom than the inner section. Folking was under restraint throughout, while The Nut was ridden briskly for a major part of the final half mile. The colts came out of their trial in good condition. Just a short time before the former pair reached the course, Preston Burch had out Fisher and Graysons Voltear, and he was worked over the Derby distance. Under his Derby weight, which included jockey Frank Chiavetta, who will ride the Belle Isle Stables Upset Lad in Saturdays race, the unsexed son of Volta went the route in 2 :16% easily. Chiavetta rated him well, and he was going impressively while running the final quarter in :28y5. He went the first quarter in :26, the half mile in :5iy5, three-quarters in 1:19% and the mile in 1:48. As revealed by the fractional time, the gelding went the fourth quarter of his trial in :28%, or two-fifths of a second slower than the last, or fifth quarter. Trainer Burch was well pleased with the work and is confident that his representative will be at top condition for his important engagement. Mark Harned, who, with his brother, Asa, owns Boris, today felt confident that the three-year-old is deserving of a chance to start in Saturdays fixture. The Craigan-gower gelding, after effective winter campaigning, has continued to take his preparation in a manner gratifying to John Reed, his trainer. Following her fine performance in the Trials Purse Tuesday, there was no little consideration of Martin Finns filly Port Harlem, as a prospective Derby participant. It was announced from headquarters that John Schorr, her trainer who has been absent from the track for several days due to illness, states that she is to be reserved for the impending renewals of the local and Latonia Oaks and other later engagements. H. J. Thompson, trainer of Blue Larkspur and Bay Beauty, was taken ill last night and was unable to attend his duties this morning. In his absence Wm. Hurley supervised the light exercise given the E. R. Bradley candidates. Thompson is suffering from a heavy cold, probably induced by the drenching he received during Tuesdays trial of the candidates, but he hopes to be sufficiently improved to resume his duties Thursday. A. Baker, trainer of the horses of R. S. Clark, today stated that Mr. Clarks colors will not be in the Derby field. Mr. Clarks Plumbago has for some time been included among the likely starters. Jockey Earl Pool, under contract to the Clark Stable, will ride F. M. Grabners Windy City in Saturdays race. Alderman John J. Coughlins Karl Eitel furnished the outstanding Kentucky Derby incident of the afternoon when he galloped a mile and a quarter in the good time of 2:09% and impressed by the handy manner in which he accomplished his task. R. Jones, who will ride him in the Derby, was his pilot and, beginning the trial at the three-quarter post, sent the colt along at a fast pace, the first quarter being done in :23%, half in :48%, three-quarters in 1:14, mile in 1:42%, and final quarter in :27, completing the trip in 2:09%. Because of breaking at the three-quarter post, it forced Karl Eitel to travel twice on the back stretch where the going was more difficult than on the main stretch. The upper turn was particularly soft, as indicated by the 28 seconds it required after the colt had completed six furlongs. Karl Eitel, regardless of track conditions, will be a starter in Saturdays fixture and his splendid trial this afternoon has added admirers to the already large number he had. Following the running of the fourth race, John R. Thompson, Jr.s Minotaur, in company with Dowagiac, was given his final Derby trial. He was worked a mile and an eighth and cantered out an additional eighth, completing the mile and a quarter, easing, in 2:13y5. The pair broke from the stand and went the first quarter, the most trying because of the holding mud at the first turn, in :25% ; half in :50%. They came to the three-quarters in 1:10 and the pace continued proportionately the same when Minotaur finished the mile in advance of his companion in 1:42%. The next eighth was in 14 seconds and he was eased up for the remainder of the trip. a