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Predict Memorable Race for Preakness Stakes ♦ FIELD SMALL BUT GOOD » Crack Band Expected to Start in 0,000 Preakness. * Equipoise, Twenty Grand, Mate and Other Stars Listed As Prospective Contestants. * BALTIMORE, Md., May 7.— On the eve of the running of the historic old Preakness Stakes of the Maryland Jockey Club it Pimlico, there is a better promise for a notable renewal than at any time since its inauguration. There is small chance for the field being a big one. but there is every chance that it will result in a memorable race. Present indications are that the following will probably make up the field in the 0,000 race: Equipoise, Twenty Grand, Mate, Ladder, Clock Tower, Soil Gills, Surf Board, Anchors Aweigh, Aegis, My Broom, Rip Van Winkle. Twenty Grand, the ace of the Greentree Stable, has done everything that has been asked of him in a training way since his victory in the Wood Memorial at Jamaica last Saturday, while C. V. Whitneys Equipoise, the largest money-winning juvenile of last year, has entirely recovered from the ailment that brought his defeat in the Chesapeake Stakes at Havre de Grace. ALMOST A MATCH RACE. The race seems to lie between these two, provided the going is fast, but it in no sense begins and ends as a match. A. C. Bost» wicks Mate has been brought up to the running magnificently. Then there is Clock Tower, Morton L. Schwartz colt that raced so brilliantly in the Wood Memorial that Twenty Grand had to be put to a long drive to beat him. Soil Gills, from the Seagram Stable, has moved up considerably in his training and racing and he is considered a sure starter. There have been some eliminations from the probable field. Some have dropped by the wayside through the strenuous weeks of training and others have been taken sick when well on the way to winning form. One of these was Sun Meadow, the hope of Mrs. Katherine Elkins Hitt. There will be no colt brought over from Kentucky for the running and, altogether, the field will be a smaller one than has been the general rule for the Preakness, it is doubtful if ever a better field was seen under silks in this noted race. TWENTY GRAND SLOW STARTER The small field will be a distinct advantage to Twenty Grand, with his inability to leave the post running, but in the C. V. Whitney camp there is an abiding faith in Equipoise, no matter what the size of the field or the condition of the going. Muddy going would be a handicap to Twenty Grand, and in the event such a condition exists Rowe may send out Anchors Aweigh and Surf Board rather than Twenty Grand, his first choice. With three such magnificent colts fit and ready the Greentree Stable hand is indeed a strong one, though it is safe to promise that unless Twenty Grand bears the silks, the chance, for Equipoise winning will be greatly enhanced. The Preakness will point the way to the Derby. Twenty Grand has begun his three-year-old season just as did William Woodwards Gallant Fox last year and he is a colt well qualified to race to just such fame as came to the son of Sir Gallahad III. Trainer Maxie Hirsch, just in from New York, sent Morton L. Schwartz Clock Tower, black son of Snob II.— Daylight Saving, one mile and a quarter through the mud at Pimlico this morning in 2:11%. This was his final work for the Preakness on Saturday. With Harry Schillick in the saddle Clock Tower literally flew the first part of his trial. He went the mile in the fractional time of :24, :48. 1:15%, 1:42%, which was fast running this morning over the bad track which prevailed. Clock Tower covered the one mile and an eighth mark in 1:56 73 and, although he was tiring as he raced to the one mile and a Contiyiued on twentieth page. FIELD SMALL BUT GOOD Continued from first page. quarter post in 2:11%, trainer Hirsch was well pleased with the move, for it was the first time he had asked Clock Tower to go such a distance. Todays trial proved to the satisfaction of everyone that Clock Tower can run equally as well in the mud as on a dry track. In his last start he forced Twenty Grand to run one mile and seventy yards in better than 1:43 in order to beat him. Clock Tower was carried the first seven-eighths of a mile by Sir John Alden, but after drawing away from his companion Hirschs Preakness and Derby hope seemed to loaf a bit. Scot Harlan also had Walter M. Jeffords Preakness hope, Aegis, on the track this morning. He was sent an easy one mile and an eighth with Donald Mergler in the saddle. The fractional time was :25%, :53%, 1:22%, 1:50%, 2:05. A. C. Bostwicks Mate, one of the choices for the Preakness regardless of the track conditions, was sent seven-eighths by trainer "Big Jim" Healy. The colt was timed in :24%, :49, 1:15%, 1:30, following which trainer Healy considered him fit to run for a kings ransom. Trainer Jack Pryce announced that unless the track was fast on Saturday that he would not send W. J. Salmons Ladder to the post for the Preakness. Pete Walls will come on from New York to ride Clock Tower. He will report to trainer Max Hirsch Saturday morning.
