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THREE-YEAR -OLDS OF 1935 4 Mdrplucks Claim for Recognition as First Class Racer Rests on Ability to Go a Route Rather Foreign to a Son of Morvich Editors Note This is the seventh of a series of articles covering the three-year-olds of 1935, their racing credentials as juveniles and prospects during the current year. Owner, J. H. Louchheim. Breeder, W. S. Kilmer and Benjamin Block. Trainer, C. Buxton. ry0t.er f Friars Balsam ja f Runnymede Mavourneen jtM- : - I Running Stream V Domino f I Dancing Water S I - fDr. Leggo fPuryear D. . g LHymir -. ... Sevens I Georgia Girl S Solitaire II. Georgia VI. fl J - i - - fSundridge f Amphion fSun Briar ; Sierra 3 lSweet Briar II. Jst. Frusquin Presentation g v - SLS . , . fPolymelus fCyllene LGay Polymel. . . ........ I Maid Marian M . ILady Quex Florizel II. Gay Duchess Sts. 1st. 2d. 3d. Unp. Won. 1934 record 13. 2 4 1 6 $ 6,255 1935 record 1 0 0 0 1 .... By NORRIS ROYDEN. In Morpluck, Jerome H. Louchheim, Philadelphia sportsman, has a three-year-old prospect which is quite unlike the usual get of Morvich and, therefore, may be one of the outstanding horses in American racing this season. Most of the sons and daughters of Morvich are high speed runners as far as they go, their limit usually being three-quarters of a mile, but Morpluck is just the opposite, as he needs this much distance to really warm to his task. In autumn racing last season, Morpluck, whose dam is Sunmel, by Sun Briar, appeared a fine distance-running prospect, scoring a hard-earned victory in the Spalding JLowe Jenkins Handicap at Laurel, and then finishing a bang-up second to Firethorn in the Walden Handicap. Prior to those performances he appeared a high-priced plater at best, and the fact that he met some capable youngsters in these events emphasizes his claim to consideration as a worthwhile prospect for this season. Much is held against Morpluck for his utter failure in the Florida Derby, for which he had trained so brilliantly, but trainer Clarence Buxton is sure the colt did not run his race, probably because the misttake was made of adding caulks to the colts shoes just before he was sent out on the track. The course was fast, whereas Buxton had been fearful the steady shower during the afternoon had caused it to become slippery. Four of Morplucks thirteen starts as a juvenile have been in claiming races, in one of which he scored his first -victory. His claiming price on that occasion, which was at Aqueduct in June, was ,000, but he was not again placed at the mercy of the haltermcn until in October at Laurel. In the meantime the Morvich colt raced in overnight events and stakes, but he failed to win, although finishing well up more often than not. After showing some promise in a mile condition event at Laurel, which Go Quick won, with Billy Bee second, Morpluck was strongly supported in his next start, in which he was entered to be claimed for ,250, but he failed to run to expectations, as Tabitha triumphed, with Commonwealth second. His next effort found him entered for the same price, but the race was at three-quarters. Despite the shorter distance, Morpluck finished strongly to garner third honors a length back of Hilise. Two days later he broke into the limelight by capturing the Spalding Lowe Jenkins, which was over the mile distance. With 105 pounds on his back, and ridden by Merritt, Morpluck was well back of the early pace, but moved up steadily after leaving the back stretch to enter contention near the eighth post. He stood a good drive to score by a neck over Billy Bee, while Firethorn was third. Morpluck followed up this performance with an even better one in the Walden, the distance of which is a mile and one-sixteenth. The Louchheim colt had to be content v;ith second honors, a half length back of Firethorn, but behind him were Polar Flight, Diablesse, Our Reigh, Black Helen, Sailor Beware and other fair youngsters. He was well back in the early running, but picked up the leaders one by one until he was in second place shortly after entering the stretch. Then he and Firethorn staged a duel to the wire, with Morpluck holding his own, if not able to wear down the Jeffords colt. That was Morplucks last effort as a two-year-old and his only race this season so far was in the Florida Derby. Morplucks staying qualities, which he distinctly possesses, are hardly suggested by his pedigree. His sire, Morvich, was a precocious and unbeaten two-year-old vhich failed badly after winning the Kentucky Derby as a three-year-old. Most of his offspring have been sprinters pure and simple. Morpluck probably gets much of his staying power through his dam, a member of the same female line which produced Chicle and other good horses.
