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S 3 KENTUCKY DERBY REVIEW : Continuing: the review of Kentucky Derby eligibles. the following are a number of potential starters, whose records are discussed : BATTLESHIP By Man o War Quarantine, owned by W. J. Salmon. JUVENILE RECORD: . Starts, IsL 2nd. 3rd. Unit. Won. 3 1 0 0 1 $ 650 This son of the great Man o War was sent to the post only twice as a two-year-old. His first start was made at Bowie late in the year, November 27. He was unplaced, though he gave a fair account of himself. He was shipped to Florida for winter racing and won his first start at Keeney Park, in a maiden race. This was at three-quarters of a mile on a fas? track. At Miami, this year, he performed so well that he became well considered for the Florida Derby and went to the post for that fixture equal first choice with Partisan, the Widener racer. The race that won Battleship his favoritism for the Florida Derby was the Trial Purse, at a mile, run March 4. and, in this contest, on a fast track, the Salmon colt led a number of those that beat him out in the Derby, which was run only a few days later. Titus, winner of the Derby; Playfellows Dream, which was second ; Politen, which was third, all were beaten by Battleship in the Trial Purse, and in that field also was St. Prisca, a fast filly of the "Widener Stable, which enjoyed a very successful campaign at Miami, but which was not nominated for Hialeahs Derby. This trial event, indeed, brought a larger and, except for the absence of Partisan, which failed dismally in the Derby, better field to the post than went in the Derby itself. And as Battleship defeated that field easily, leading all the way, he was a logical choice for the Derby.. The extra eighth of a mile, plus the picking up of seven pounds, proved his undoing. He was the early pacemaker but gave up all he had in racing one or two others into defeat, and finished far out of the money, though fourth to Titus, Playfellows Dream and Politen. After leaving Florida, Battleship had still another chance to prove himself a better colt than the Florida Derby winner. This was in the James Howe Memorial Handicap, at Bowie. He won this race and accordingly made a very flattering start on his eastern campaign. Behind him, in addition to Titus, were Mr. Desmond, Frumper, Colossal and several others. He got to the front quickly and it was his race all the way. UNCLE LUTHER By King Gorin Day Dreamy owned by v L. Stivers. JUVENILE RECORD: Starts. 1st. 2nd. 3rd. Unn. Won. " 13 3 4 3 3 $ 3,300 Uncle Luthers record shows him to have been, in his juvenile season, an. indigent post , horse, but a very game finisher and one that did not have to pick his track conditions. He was very highly regarded when he made his first start and went to the post favorite over Lightning Jones, Delmonico and some others that had had some racing experience. This was at Lexington, April 22, and it was the race in which Lightning Jones graduated from the maiden class. Uncle Luther was the runner-up. He was practically left at the post, along with Hermes and Chariot, but, under a vigorous ride by jockey Ryan, he got up gallantly and was beaten only a length in the muddy going. The other two which failed to get away with the field did not follow the King Gorin colts example. He was later to give other exhibitions of courage. Uncle Luthers finish in his first start made him favorite again in his second start and again he began very badly. He closed a lot of lost ground, but was unable to get in the money. This was on a fast track. He was all but left, a third time, in the Idle Hour Stakes, on a good track, and never , could catch up. Lightning Jones was winner of this race also. Still a maiden, he went in the Harold Stakes at Latonia. This was won by Morsel and Uncle Luther was unplaced. He then got out of the maiden- class by winning from Donora and some others that were more extensively played. Uncle Luthers Dade Park record was a very good one. He first ran third to Coady and Blaze The Trail. Then he won by a head from Blaze The Trail. He lost to Reveille Boy in a race in which he was favorite and then, on a muddy track, won by a half length from Alvin Ranshaw. His remaining races In Kentucky were all good, although he was unable to win. He was beaten four lengths by Justina, in the mud, and finished second to Alvin Ranshaw on a fast track. On a heavy track, at Latonia, he was third to Bellsmith and Try Too. A slow start and interference while he was making his move in the stretch ruined his chances to win. He made another game finish after a slow start in the Orphanage Stakes at Idle Hour Farm, coming in third to Manta and Gold Step. This was run on a heavy track and Uncle Luther had up 122 pounds. TONTO BOCK By Trap Rock See Saw II., owned by F. Almy. JUVENILE RECORD: Starts. 1st. 2nd. 3rd. Unn. Won. 18 6 4 C 2 .$ 5,52; Tonto Rock has been one of the busiest of the Derby candidates ever since he ran his first race, early in February, 1929, at Tijuana. He ran eighteen races as a two-year-old and was starting just as frequently in the first three months of his second season. He was a strong contender-in the Agua Cali-ente Derby of March 2, finishing third to Greyola and Longus. This Derby was at a mile and an eighth. Had the distance been a little greater Greyola might have been pressed very hard, for Tonto Rock was coming strong and was beaten only a nose for the place by Longus. His finish showed him to be a game and capable route runner and was regarded as a good augury of his chances in the greater distance Derby for which he was nominated by owner Almy. He had up 115 pounds in the Agua Caliepte Derby, which was as much as any other, ejscept Jim Dandy; which finished last, was asked to carry. The Agua Caliente Derby brought together a very respectable field. Some that finished behind Tonto Rock were Hatrick, Wizardry, Good and Hot, Sidney Grant, Line Rider and Arcadian Flag. Tonto Rock became a keen factor in racing with his very first start. This was at Tijuana February 7, 1929. He finished, third to Easter Seth and Violate on a sloppy track. He then won a half-mile race at that track, on the dry. From Tijuana he was shipped to Bain-bridge. He was unlucky in his first start there and finished unplaced. He was in the money in two other races there. In one of these he was beaten only a head in track record time for five-eighths of a mile. Running next at Devonshire, he was third to Freethinker and Ignite on a slow track. He won, as favorite, on a heavy track at Thistledown : then at Bainbridge, with 118 pounds up, he was a close second to Best Balance. Well regarded as a mud runner, he was made favorite again in such going, but finished third. Tonto Rocks next four races were run at Blue Bonnets and Woodbine. At the latter track he won two races, carrying weight up to 119 pounds. His winter campaign was begun at Arlington Downs, in Texas. There he won one race and was in the money in two others. He celebrated his return to Mexico by winning the Los Angeles Purse, at Agua Caliente, defeating Good and Hot, the favorite, in a fine stretch drive. As a three-year-old Tonto Rock won two races in six starts before finishing third in the Agua Caliente Derby.
