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COMMONWEALTH WILL START Rumors of Poor Condition Refuted by Thursdays Workout. Jeffords Colorbearer Slated to Race in Chesapeake Stakes Saturday at Havre de Grace. HAVRE DE GRACE, Md., April 18. For some unexplained reason there has been a rumor that Mrs. Walter M. Jeffords Commonwealth would not be a starter in the Chesapeake Stakes of the Harford Association Saturday. It was intimated that the son of Bostonian and EtoileDOr was not ready for a gallop of a mile and a sixteenth in first class company. The report was that as accomplished a trainer as Preston Burch had not done enough with the colt for the reason that no high speed has been shown in any of his trials. Doubtless Burch knows more about training his own horses than anyone else, and unless he should make a sudden change of plans, Commonwealth will go to the post. He will also go to the post probably the favorite for the race, and he will be ready. Before the colt was shipped from the farm he had a deaT of training, and since his arrival he has done all that Burch has asked. This morning, with Firethorn as a running mate for the first seven furlongs, Commonwealth went a mile in 1:43 to ease up a mile and a furlong in 1:57. Other candidates for the Chesapeake have shown faster trials, but not one of them has shown a more impressive move. The colt was under snug restraint all the way and, as a matter of fact, it was intended to have him gallop along in 1:59. There was a dash to his move which indicated to watchers that he is fit and ready for the silks, though the pace was not a fast one. Commonwealth broke with Martial Law as companion at the furlong post in the stretch. He was picked up by Firethorn on the first turn, and Martial eased out of the way and the two went along otgether for seven furlongs. The first quarter was run in :24, and the three furlongs mark was reached in :36, and the half mile in :49, while the five furlongs was done in 1:03. The six furlongs was run in 1:16, and Burch began waving the boys down with the seven furlongs mark passed in 1:29. Then Commonwealth went on alone to reach the mile in 1:43, with Burch still "stopping" the exercise boy and at the end of a mile and a furlong the son of Bostonian was being eased up in 1:57. It was a faster move than had been intended, but had been accomplished with such consummate ease that it naturally was pleasing to all who watched. Commonwealth cooled out nicely after this good exercise, and everything in the move suggested a readiness to race a mile and a quarter instead of the mile and a sixteenth of the Chesapeake.
