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TICK ON ATTRACTS ATTENTION Many Supporting Kaufmann Star Because of Prejudice Against Sex of Top Flight. LOUISVILLE, Ky., March 16. Although C. V. Whitneys Top Flight rules decidedly as the popular choice for the 0,000 added Kentucky Derby, which will be run at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 7, many horsemen in this section incline to Mrs. L. G. Kaufmans Tick On. Whether this leaning toward Tick On is due to the .prejudice many feel against a filly in such an event or it is based on something more substantial it is difficult to say. Arguments indicate that both factors enter the question. It must be admitted that only one filly ever has won the Derby. From the time of its inception in 1875 until Regrets triumph in 1915 the male sex reigned supreme. The same has held true since 1915. This would clearly indicate that there are few high class fillies that can beat high class colts, but followers of Top Flight argue that it does not indicate that a filly which has proved her supremacy over the colts of her age as a juvenile cannot do the same as a three-year-old in the manner exemplified by Regret The arguments then get down to the question of the relative merits of the leading performers last year. This discussion centers on the Pimlico Futurity, at a mile and a sixteenth, in which Top Flight won from Tick On by a neck. In this race Top Flight was close to the front from the start and suffered no interference, while Tick On was obliged to come up from eighth place, and he was gaining on the leader through the stretch. This is the plaint of the Tick On adherents. But the supporters of the favorite "meet this one with what appears to be conclusive logic. It is true that Tick On was in eighth place a half-mile from the finish, but the field was so closely bunched that he was only a length and a half behind the leader, Lucky Tom, and only a length behind Top Flight, which was in second place. At the head of the stretch Top Flight was half a length in front of Tick On, which had moved up to second place. He cut this margin down to a neck in the run through the stretch. But, and here is the stamp of Top Flights supremacy, both Top Flight and Tick On carried 119 pounds. The conditions of the race offset her five-pound sex allowance from Tick On, and there is no getting away from the fact that she gave him five pounds and a beating. In the Kentucky Derby Top Flight will carry 121 -pounds and Tick On will carry 126, the scale for fillies and colts. Unless he shows improvement over his Pimlico Futurity effort it would not look like he could do this. Unless they should meet with some mishap there is little doubt that both Top Flight and Tick On will face the barrier in the Derby. The mild winter has enabled both to keep their muscles hardened so that they will easily be able to get into shape in the next two months. Both Top Flight and Tick- On are in the hands of expert conditioners. The Whitney miss is trained by Tom Healey, while Max Hirsch looks after Tick On. The duel between these veteran horsemen will be of little less interest than that between their charges. However, on past performances, it looks like it will be a matter of honors even in this respect, as both Top Flight and Tick On are sure to be as fit as training can make them.
