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THREE-YEAR-OLDS OF 1935 Black Helen Entitled to Serious Consideration as Claimant for High Honors Among Horses of Her Own Age This Year. Editors Note This is the second of a :eries of articles covering the three-year-olds of 191"? ih,r ther rac.ng credentials as juveniles and prospects during the current year. Owner, E. R. Bradley. Breeder, E. R. Bradley. Trainer, Wm. Hurley. .fPeterPan Commando Domiand r g . Cinderalla ? Hermit ja o J Mazurka i-i , , f Ben Brush ..Bramble iBelgravia. J d j Roseville Bonnie Gal Galopin 5 Bonnie Doon I r-Teddy:.:.......,...... -s;jrF jlj g . RonJeau ,Bay Ronald m P. i Doremi o 2 7 TI, , m , "Helicon . . $ Cyllene M L S lHelene de Troie jvain Duchess pj I Lady of Pedigree....... . St. Denis Doxa 1934 record L 3d. Unp. Won 1SW5 record 2 2 q 0 q igjqq By NORRIS ROYDEN. Black Helen, second of three members of Edward Riley Bradleys stable considered in this series of a score of three-year-olds, is the first of three fillies in toe groun to be discussed. The small but very fast daughter of Black Toney and La TroicLf maV vev easily dominate the three-year-old filly ranks this season, but whether she can aSert he? self against the topnotch colts is a much mooted question. In her two appearance in stakes last season, Black Helen failed to face in a manner deserving consideration in this discussion, but in ffrsTve piling up victories in all of her tries as a juvenile and in her two efforts at Hialeah Park this winL? one of ShSyf m the Florida Derby, she left no doubt as to her possession of considerable class. William Hurley, who developed Black Helen and still trains her, is firmly convinced that the Bradley filly was far from being in top form last fall when she suffered her only defeats in the Walden and Pimlico Handicaps. After cleaning up in her first four starts, which were at Washington and Arlington Parks, she was in preparation for the Saratoga Special when she suffered a throat infection. Out of training for two months, Black Helen reappeared for competition at Laurel, where she won two more sprints. Then Hurley asked her to race a mile and seventy yards at Pimlico as a preliminary for the Walden. She won this event with something to spare and as a result was made the favorite for the Walden, but she drew an outside post position in the large field and had no end of trouble in gaining a contending position in the opening half mile. Never able to get to to front, Black Helen began dropping back fn the second turn and was eased up through the stretch. Black Helen also was unable to get to the front early as was her custom in the Pimlico Handicap, and then met with trouble on the turn and she finished fourth in that dash of six furlongs, victory in which went to Go Quick, with Polar Flight second and Advantage third. Thereupon, she was put away for the season and soon after was shipped to Florida. Hurley gave Black Helen plenty of rest in Florida and it had the desired effect, be-, cause when she was returned to competition shortly before the running of the Florida Derby she scampered to an easy victory. The event was at one mile and the Bradley miss, with much speed at her command, simply toyed with her opposition. Despite her defeats at Pimlico, Black Helen once more was in good favor with the public and went into the Florida Derby as the favorite, even though the mile and a furlong distance was expected to put her staying powers to a severe test. Under 113 pounds, the Black Toney miss broke fast and had a commanding position at the first turn, although Brannon was at her side. They went on around the turn and down the back stretch as a team, but1 all the while Don Meade had Black Helen under steady restraint. Approaching the turn out of the back stretch, he gave the word and his mount jumped into a clear lead which she increased slowly in the run to the finish even though Meade did not relinquish his steady hold on her at any time. Running the mile and a furlong through greasy footing in 1:51, Black Helen won by four lengths over Mantagna, with third going to Roman Soldier, which had come from far back after having suffered interference in the early stages. However, his performance did not compare with that of the victress. Black Helen may perform Jn middle distance events like the Chesapeake and Wood Memorial Stakes this spring, but she is to be pointed for such filly events as the Acorn, Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama Stakes. Perhaps, by midsummer she will be asked to meet the topnotch colts at the mile and one-quarter distance. From a breeding standpoint, Black Helen should run all day, as in addition to being by one of Americas greatest sires, she is from a daughter of Teddy and possesses other stout foreign blood through her dam. Her granddam won on the flat and over the jumps and also produced Leonidas II., a brother of La Troienne, which captured the Lincolnshire Handicap. The fourth dam was a sister to the dam of Black Jester. Black Helen may overcome the disadvantages of being a filly and being of small stature to complete the season ranking high among the three-year-olds.
