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| ; • Here and There on the Turf k i In all the Ions and glorious history of the historic old Withers Stakes, which had a first running away back in 1874, it is doubtful if there ever was a renewal of such sensational Interest as that of Thursday at Belmont Park. It was far and away the greatest renewal, for a real thrill at the finish and no winner has raced in faster time since the Man o War triumph in 1920. The slashing •on of Fair Play and Mahubah raced the mile in 1:35%, to beat Wildair and David Harum, while Edward R Bradleys Blue X*arkspur ran the mile Thursday in 1 :36. After seeing the magnificent son of Black Servant and Blossom Time finish out the Withers with such marvelous gameness, the conviction is forced that he was only beaten in the Kentucky Derby by reason of the muddy, slippery condition of the going. There was no time in that Kentucky classic that the colt extended himself with confident and there was naturally no chance for the electrical speed that brought him through *he Belmont stretch with that never to be for- gotten winning rush. And, while paying tribute to Blue Larkspur, the winner, Chestnut Oak, which was only beaten In the last stride, must not be forgotten. The son of Apprenhension carried all the burden of a terrific pace from the rise of the barrier, and, after that, continued sprinting the manner in which he hung to his task makes him a colt of truly high quality. The marvel of it is that the handsome •printer had run three-quarters in 1 :10 and he could still battle along for another quarter of a mile. The first quarter was run in :22%, the second in :23 and third quarter in :24%, leaving a last quarter in :26 to complete the wonderful performance. It was natural that such a terrific pace ■hould carry the Ryan colt out a couple of lengths before as fast as a colt as Jack High, and it is natural that it should have seen Blue Larkspur well back of the pair of them. It was more than flesh and blood could endure, to carry on at such a pace and in fighting along to only be beaten a nose makes Chestnut Oak one of the exceptionally fast horses seen on the turf this year. Garner is to be commended for avoiding that fast pace with Blue Larkspur and doubtless the pace for the first three-quarters of a mile had much to do with the result, but the son of Black Servant had to be horse enough to run down these flying sprinters to take down the prize. Some offered criticism of both Fields and McAtee. Fields, in sending Chestnut Oak along at such a suicidal pace, and McAtee for chasing the son of Apprehension with Jack High. These criticisms are hardly fair. Taking a line through the Hopeful of last year, in which the same three colts fought it out for victory, it was the speed of Chestnut Oak that enabled him to show the way to the final sixteenth. It was natural to expect that his best chance for victory was in sprinting away from the other two and depending on a long lead to see him safely through the final eighth. And it almost turned the trick. And there is no good reason for finding fault with the ride of McAtee on Jack High. McAtee evidently knew the danger of permitting Chestnut Oak to draw away too far and it was the most natural thing in the world to send the son of John P. Grier after him, though until well into the stretch, the son of Apprehension was leading him by a length and a half. He had to run the flying leader down and he moved smoothly on Mr. Wideners colt in that effort. There is no denying that Blue Larkspur could have been closer to the flying leaders approaching the turn into the stretch, and there is no denying that Garner used skill in his ride, but the race was one to suggest that both Chestnut Oak and Jack High are at best phenomenal sprinters, with the mile just about their limit for a best effort. Analyzing the two-year-old form of the three colts would make it appear that Blue Larkspur is best. True he was beaten by Jack High In the running of the Hopeful, but all who remember that running, and the manner in which the son of Black Servant was closing in the run through the stretch must admit that he was best of the field. Then In the running of the Futurity at Belmont Park, which followed that Saratoga prize, the Bradley colt was injured at the post, and so badly injured that he was not out of his stall for several days, and he was not brought back to the races again. Of course defenders of Jack High may find excuses for his defeats by Blue Larkspur. They may be valid excuses, but after all excuses do not win races, or help materially in earning a reputation. Offering no excuses it would seem that on tkfc facing of 1923, | 1 3 | 4 5 6 7 1 . 2 . 3 J i 5 6 . 7 , , j , ; ] ! i . | , [ , j Blue Larkspur was the master of both Jack High and Chestnut Oak last year. He proved himself their master in the mile of the Withers. This race will naturally give Blue Larkspur the top position in a consideration of the Belmont Stakes, the next big engagement of the three. This big engagement comes .June 8 and the Withers would pronounce Mr. Bradleys colt as surely a brighter prospect than either of the other two. He surely is better qualified to race the mile and a half of that prize, and it would seem that he will have more to fear from Walter J. Salmons Preakness winner. Dr. Freeland. In winning the old Bashford Manor Stakes, at Churchill Downs Thursday, All Upset, the swift-running son of Upset and Thoughtless Beauty, moved up a bit further among the juveniles of the year. Under a burden of 122 pounds this good colt forced the pace from the rise of the barrier and stuck it out for the five furlongs in real racehorse fashion. Of course there was some excuse for High Foot which raced him to a nose, for the son of Prince Pal was away slowly and had to run exceedingly fast in the first furlong to take a contending position, but it was none the less a first class race. Incidentally this Upset, which is the only colt to have a score over Man o War, when he beat Mr. Riddles wonder horse in the Sanford Memorial, has been making good as a stock horse and he has sent many a good one to the races. I ; , ■ i ; I t
