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EQUIPOISE WORKS IN THE MUD * Whitney Colt Displays Fitness in Galloping Mile and an Eighth Over Difficult Track — Up and Ladder Only Other Candidates Under Saddle • LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 13. — When there came both rain and hail last night, several of the trains of Derby eligibles changed their training plans. It had been intended to send the Greentree Stable trio, Twenty Grand, Surf Board and Anchors Aweigh along smartly in the morning, but James Rowe did not care to ask them for any strenuous work by reason of the footing. Various other of the trains also kept their charges off the deep muddy track, but Equipoise, which is a veritable glutton for work, was brought !out by Fred Hopkins. The son of Pennant and Swinging, with Harry Shillick in the saddle, and accompanied by Totem, was sent along for a brisk mile and a furlong. Totem went along for the first mile with his illustrious stablemate and the Derby colt finished out the nine furlongs in 2:02%, being eased up at the end. He had gone to the first half in :53%, six furlongs in 1:20% and the mile in 1:48%. Considering the track conditions and the fact that the move was around the "dogs," it was an entirely satisfactory performance and suggests an entire readiness for the big assignment of Saturday, no matter what may be the condition of the course. Up, while rated as a doubtful starter, was sent five furlongs in 1:05, handily. This son of High Cloud and Idleness, which races for Mrs. J. M. Crofton, is a rare colt in muddy or heavy going and he will undoubtedly be raced Saturday should such going prevail. He has the Agua Caliente Derby to his credit, though he is generally rated as a sprinter. In his move this morning through the difficult mud he reeled off a first quarter in :25 and a half in :51, which was wonderful speed through such footing. Jack Pryce gave W. J. Salmons Ladder a useful breezing work of five furlongs in 1:07. The son of Ladkin strides boldly in the muddy going and his was just a "blowout" for a more ambitious trial when conditions are more favorable for fast galloping. There were no other Derby candidates to appear on the course during the work hours, but it was promised that later in the day, should the track dry out sufficiently, there would be some moves. It was unfortunate there should have come this track condition to upset some of the training plans, but tomorrow morning will not be too late to put the final "prep" on the colts. Thursday is a natural final work day for a Saturday engagement and it is not expected that this interruption of Continued on twenty-first page. EQUIPOISE WORKS IN THE MUD Continued from first page. plans will have any effect on the condition of any one of the prospective starters. There is much confidence in many of the camps. "Big Jim" Healy, when asked about Mate, is using the hackneyed phrase, "I will have no excuses Saturday." James Rowe is satisfied with his trio, Twenty Grand, Surf Board and Anchors Aweigh. Pryce is confident that Ladder will give a good account of himself. Fred Hopkins has never lost faith in Equipoise and there is still the feeling that the East is destined to make a clean sweep Saturday. But the running of the Trial Tuesday sent the stock of Pitts-burgher up a bit, and that same race gives Sweep All a new importance. The Dixiana colt was so miserably ridden by Kurtsinger that he was great in defeat and it was evident that the ride, more than anything else, was responsible for his defeat. That race leaves Pittsburgher and Sweep All at the top of the Kentucky colts that will be raced in the Derby. It is unfortunate that Rowe will not have the services of L. "Pony" McAtee for the big race. It had been hoped that he would change the assignment of his jockeys and give McAtee the mount on Twenty Grand, with Charlie Kurtsinger on Surf Board, but it develops that McAtee will not be on from New York for the running. A. J. Joyner, who has second call on this accomplished rider, will keep him in New York to ride George D. Wideners Panetian in the Toboggan Handicap, to be run Friday at Belmont Park. This made necessary a change and Rowe has engaged Watters to ride Surf Board, while Kurtsinger will, as originally intended, have the mount on Twenty Grand, with Steffen riding Anchors Aweigh. In the meantime Kurtsinger will have to learn how to keep well off the inner rail with the son of St. Germans Saturday if he is to give the colt his best chance. In all of his rides this jockey invariably chooses a position as close to the inner rail as is possible and it is a course that frequently proves a handicap to a horse like Twenty Grand, which is always outrun in the early stages. Remaining on the rail in the running of the Preakness contributed to the defeat of the colt and a like course Saturday might again prove his undoing. The other jockeys are well aware of the rail riding habit of Kurtsinger and it is not to be expected they will afford him any room to come through if there is a chance to block an opening. And the rail position will be through footing a bit deeper than ten or twelve feet from the rail, whether the track be muddy or dry. *
