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HEAD PLAY WELL GUARDED Preakness Winner Amply Protected While Awaiting Engagement in Wood Memorial. NEW YORK, N. Y., May 18.— Never has a thoroughbred been as carefully guarded as has Mrs. Silas B. Masons Head Play, winner of the Preakness and present favorite for the running of the Wood Memorial, the week-end feature at Jamaica. The son of My Play and Red Head is at no time left alone. Pat Murphy sleeps in the same stall with the colt, while night and day guards are posted about the stable. The handsome chestnut was galloped Thursday morning, but his public trial of Wednesday was ample to pronounce his readiness for the gallop of a mile and seventy yards. He is a colt that possesses a high turn of speed, and the veteran T. P. Hayes has brought him to prime racing condition. While earlier in the week as good as 8 to 5 was quoted against Head Play for the Wood, there is little chance of his going to the post at better than a short odds-on price. That is natural to expect after his showing Wednesday. "Bub" Stotler has made no definite announcement of the W. R. Coe eligibles that may be sent against Mrs. Masons champion, but it is not expected that Ladysman will be the choice. "Jim" Healy has about decided on Poppyman to carry the silks of Mrs. John Hay Whitney. This colt was about at Belmont Park Thursday morning and impressed when he galloped a mile in 1:41%. It was the best work of the morning hours. The fractions for the move were :24%, :36%, :48%, 1:01%, 1:14%, 1:27%, and the distance in 1:41%. It was accomplished with ease all the way, and the colt promises to give an excellent account of himself Saturday. William Brennan sent Dynastic along for a mile in 1:47. It was accomplished handily and he might be the one to carry the silks of the Greentree Stable. James Fitzsimmons will saddle three for the Wood, according to his present plans. They are Utopian, which finished third in the Preakness, Balios and De Valera. All three have been training at Aqueduct and appear to be fit and ready for the silks. Yesterday Utopian went along for an easy mile in 1:43, and Balios a handy six furlongs in 1:13%. Both have had a deal of training and are ready. — •
