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STARS FOR AMERICAN DERBY » » Crack Field Certain Despite Absence of Blue Larkspur » Regret Expressed Over Deflection of Bradley Colt — Clyde Van Dusen May Meet Tartar in Locally-Owned Karl Eitel ■ ♦ There was keen regret among turfites in this section when definite word came that E. R. Bradley had decided against shipping Blue Larkspur to fill the engagement in the American Derby. At the same time the general opinion of horsemen and public alike was that, despite the absence of Blue Larkspur, the field for the American Derby Saturday will be the best that has gone to the post in a three-year-old stake thus far this year. Ever since Clyde Van Dusen triumphed over the Bradley star in the Kentucky Derby the impression has been strong that the pair of colts would again meet in the American Derby and that race would determine mastery. The fact that Blue Larkspur was shipped to eastern tracks immediately after the running of the Kentucky Derby carried no significance, for his transfer East was according to pre-arranged plana. It has been an ambition of Mr. Bradleys to annex the Belmont Stakes. He was sanguine, too, that he would do so this year with Blue Larkspur. With a Withers triumph in addition to registering in the Belmont Stakes and exploding the theory that he could not perform successfully on a muddy track there appeared more incentive and likewise well-founded supposition that Blue Larkspur would again tackle Clyde Van Dusen, his sturdy rival that has so far been the only one to administer defeat to him. HURLEYS EXPLANATION. While Mr. Bradley has not expressed himself on the subject of failure to ship Blue Larkspur here to engage in the Washington Park rich prize that will have decision next Saturday, the theory of trainer William Hurley, in charge of the Bradley division now racing at Washington Park, might be the correct reason. Trainer Hurley said : "The running of the Belmont Stakes and the American Derby are somewhat close together and it would be a hardship on Blue Larkspur to fill both engagements and endure a long distance shipment from New York in the short space of time after having performed over the mile and a half distance and conquered the best in the East. If there was a period of two weeks between the two races, there is every reason to believe that Blue Larkspur would have been on hand to battle for the approximately 0,000 that goes to the winner of the American Derby." Regardless of what the reasons are for his non-appearance in the race, 99 per cent of the racing enthusiasts in this section are keenly disappointed that he will not contest with his sturdy opponents on next Saturday over the Washington Park course. Blue Larkspurs absence from the rac does not necessarily mean that Clyde Van Dusen will achieve an easy triumph. On the contrary, since the running of the Kentucky Derby several three-year-olds have made rapid strides forward and are in such fine form that Clyde Van Dusen will have to be at his best, better than he was in the Kentucky Derby, to master them. The field will come from the following : Horse. Wt. Jockey. Clyde Van Dusen 126 Dr. Freeland 120 L. Kchaeffer Karl Eitel 126 R. Jones Naishapur 126 C. E. Allen Minotaur 118 R. De Prema Windy City 118 L. McDermott Judste nay 118 Jack High 118 L. McAtee African 11and R. Leonard Silverdale 118 A. Pascuma I?loo 118 E. Shropshire Duil 114. Dlack Diamond 118 With positive assurance that trainer Thomas J. Healey will ship here with the W. J. Salmon-owned Dr. Freeland, winner of the Preakness, and R. T. Wilsons African, which gave Blue Larkspur such strenuous contention in the Belmont Stakes, the American Derby takes on a sectional aspect, with California, the Middle West, and the East battling it for the honors as in the days of yore when the American Derby was the stellar epic in racing. The Healey charges are due Thursday, as they will be shipped from New York Wednesday. The Chicago-owned Karl Eitel, winner of the Fairmount Derby, is expected to be a particular thorn for Clyde Van Dusen. The Coughlin racer performed every bit as well in the Fairmount Derby as Clyde Van Dusen did in the Kentucky Derby. There should be no surprise if Karl Eitel led Clyde OoaUuued ob twenty -second page. STARS FOR AMERICAN DERBY Continued from first page. Van Dusen from the start next Saturday. A victory for Alderman Coughlin would be decidedly popular. There are two other Chicago-owned horses in the race that also give promise of being factors. They are Windy City and Minotaur. The latter did not race up to expectation in the Kentucky Derby, and the going on that occasion was held to be against him. He finished third in the Fairmor.nt Derby, also in the mud, and again was at a disadvantage. Minotaurs success in the race would benefit his former owner to the extent of 5,000. That was a condition of the sale prior to the running of the Preakness Stakes. He was transferred to John R. Thompson, his present owner for 5,000 cash and additional 5,000 in the event that he won either the Kentucky Derby, Fairmount Derby, American Derby or Classic. At least ten starters are looked upon to make the race. They will embrace the best in the three-year-old division, excluding Blue Larkspur. There are weight concessions that might prove a factor in the result. Clyde Van Dusen, Naishapur, Dr. Freeland and Karl Eitel must each carry 126 pounds for having won a purse of the value in excess of 0,000. Clyde Van Dusen earned his penalty in the Kentucky Derby, Dr. Freeland in the Preakness Stakes. Naishapur in the Tijuana Derby and Karl Eitel in the Fairmount Derby. Interest in the race is growing steadily and, with every reservation taken in the club house as well as grandstand, there is every indication that the predictions made that Washington Park for the running of the American Derby will have an attendance the equal to Churchill Downs for the decision of the famed Kentucky Deroy will come true. At any rate. Col. Matt J. Winn and general manager C. W. Hay are prepared to take care of an attendance up to 100,000. Clyde Van Dusen was given a mile and a quarter work this morning, performing his task in leisurely style and concluding the distance in 2:10%. The fractions were as follows: Quarter, :23 ; half mile, :47% ; three-quarters, 1 :13% ; mile, 1 :42. He was well in hand throughout. Trainer Van Dusen atated that no further work of a fast nature will be attempted by their colt. "He is in auperb form at present," was the trainers comment. So far there has been no rider announced for Clyde Van Dusen. It is known "Pony" McAtee will not ride Clyde Van Dusen in the American Derby, nor will McCrosson. McAtee will ride Iron-aides at Aqueduct. McCrosson is going to Latonia to ride Misstep in the Enquirer Handicap. The engagement was made some time ago. Trainer Lowenstein insisted that the boy fulfill it. Trainer Van Dusen tells this story on McAtees introduction to the horse which he piloted to triumph in the Kentucky Derby : "McAtee had not seen Clyde Van Dusen. I was fearful of a possible psychological effect if I did not give him advance warning about the characteristics of the horse. I felt that others might belittle the little fellow. " Dont weaken, is what I said to McAtee as he walked to the paddock. I studied his reaction when he looked at him. There was none to speak of. McAtee is not given to reaction. He said : Hes not much on looks. "After the race, the first thing he said was that the winner was not much bigger than a pony, but he had high speed and wonderful courage. "McAtees sizeup of Clyde Van Dusen de-acribes him. Hes a little big horse, honest, never worries, and gives his best. He will be a greater horse in the American than he was in the Kentucky Derby."
