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CHARLEY 0. IN ILLINOIS DERBY AT TOP WEIGHT • and Fair Rochester and Trace Call Are Probable Starters Saturday « R. M. Eastman Estate Candidate to Carry 122 Pounds and Col. Hatfield 118 — Sweeprush, Slapped and Justice B. Are Expected to Go to Post AURORA, 111., May 17. — When the fleetest field of three-year-olds which has ever come together at Aurora goes to the post on Saturday for the first running of the ,000-added Illinois Derby, at a mile and a furlong, indications are that it will be a case of Charley O. against the field. For although the conditions of the fixture have given the R. M. Eastman estates colt top impost of 122 pounds, there seems no thoroughbred in the list of twelve nominated that, can usurp his position as a decided public choice. Charley O, shipped from Kentucky with Col. Hatfield, Trace Call and Spicson, is expected to arrive at Washington Park Thursday and these four outstanding candidates will be vanned over from the Homewood course for their Aurora engagement. Fair Rochester is being shipped directly to Exposition Park from Churchill Downs, as is Sweeprush, and the two are likely Thursday arrivals. Col. Hatfield worked out a mile and an eighth in 1:58, handily, at Churchill Downs today. No definite advices have been received about Col. E. R. Bradleys Fingal and the Coldstream Studs Pot au Brooms, two of the minor contenders. Two others — At Top and North Mill — the Nash Brothers Shandon Farm Stable entry, are considered among the least likely starters. They are still at Churchill Downs, where the good filly At Top is being groomed for Saturdays Kentucky Oaks, and it is not believed that North Mills chances of winning the Illinois Derby against the competition that has developed are good enough to justify his shipment here. The remaining two nominees, Slapped and Justice B., are on the grounds at Aurora. In the opinion of many horsemen, Charley O, off his victory in Hialeahs 0,000 Florida Derby and his third in the Kentucky Derby, will be backed to strong favoritism. The task remaining for turf followers is the naming of the most distinguished contender. For a time track conditions indicated that Col. Hatfield and Spicson, superior mudders, would be the most formidable, next to Charley O. But the change in weather and the success which superintendent Placide Frigerio has had in working over the track now indicate that the Derby racing strip will be fast. On a fast track both Fair Rochester and Trace Call may receive more public support than Col. Hatfield and Spicson. Numerous Illinois political dignitaries, such as States Attorney Thomas Courtney, Chief Bailiff Al Horan and Cook County Commissioner Emmett Whalen have made box reservations to watch the stakes running, and several others prominent in down-state politics are expected to be on hand.
