view raw text
RANKS HIGH AS CANDIDATE Lucky Tom May Be Best Winter Derby Colt Since Black Gold. Will Have Strong: Following; and Possible Advantage in Condittion Because of Long: Winter Campaign. LOUISVILLE, Ky., Feb. 27 J. J. Robin-sons Lucky Tom, the three-year-old son of Master Charlie Phyllis Louise, is one of the most highly regarded Derby prospects that raced during the winter months since the days of Mrs. Rosa Hoots Black Gold, which won the Golden Jubilee Kentucky Derby in 1924, after annexing the Louisiana Derby, at the Crescent City. In the course of this colts sterling performances during the present winter season he has been defeated but once and that occasion, Saturday, in the Jack L. Dempsey Memorial Handicap, at one mile, brings no disgrace to him, as he was conceding lumps of weight, according to the scale, to all his opponents, and it took such crack older horses as Spanish Play and Wotan to beat him. Condition is sure to play a big part in the running of this years Derby, as trainers will have to move up their charges at least a week earlier than in some of the former years that they have had representation in the classic. A little bad weather will serve to make a horse miss his usual workout, especially those that have not been as thoroughly season by racing as the eligibles for this race in the South, and despite the fact that there are many whose achievements as two-year-olds top those of Lucky Tom, still his advanced preparation for this event is going to weigh in his favor on May 7. There is no gainsaying that Top Flight is a superior filly and one that the race-going public may not see in the ranks of two-year-olds for many years to come, but she may not be the three-year-old that Regret was in 1915, when she annexed the Derby and set a record for her sex which has stood throughout the other fifty-six years that the classic has been decided. It can be said in her favor, however, that members of her sex are more easily trained than colts, which display more inclinations to sulk or become stubborn to the wishes of their trainers, in their preparation for racing, but when in good condition will race more gamely than fillies, especially in the spring. In several instances since the inauguration of the Derby in 1875, the fleetness of foot of the winners has been the deciding factor in their victories and notably was that of the case of Morvich, Ben Blocks winner of the classic, and the Rancocas Stables Zev, both of which were accounted better sprinters than stayers. Albert Johnson rode the former, and he put Morvich on top of his field in the early stages and, nursing him along snugly while setting the pace, made his opponents leg weary in their attempts to cut down his lead, which at times they shortened during the race, by the tactics of Johnson, who eased his mount to give him breathing-spells at least three times, but his speed held in reserve enabled him to win handily. Sande employed exactly the same tactics with Zev, and he won out the mile and one-quarter distance in a manner to make one believe ho was a stayer, but a mile and one-eighth was his best lick, in the opinion of many good judges of thoroughbred horses. This may be the manner in which Top Flight Triumphs, if she does, as there is no question of her superb burst of speed, and if she is in the pink of racing condition this daughter of Dis Done can take the lead and outsprint any horse of her age of either sex. Jockey "Sonny" Workman knows her like a book, and this Dean of the present-day race riders will handle her to the best of his ability, which is a big asset in her favor. This would mark the second filly to win the classic in fifty-eight years and a triumph of both a father and son with one of this sex in the race. The late Harry Payne Whitney, owner of Regret, was the father of Cornelius V. Whitney, owner of Top Flight.
