Chance Sun and Weston in Fast Derby Gallops: Favorite for Churchill Downs Classic Goes Mile in 1:41 4/5 Handily, Daily Racing Form, 1935-04-19

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CHANCE SUN AND WESTON IN FAST DERBY GALLOPS 9 Favorite for Churchill Downs Classic Goes Mile in 1:41 f Handily . Western "Dark Horse" Covers Same Distance in 1:41 Vsj and Canters Out Mile and a Quarter in 2:11 Other Derby Activities EOUISVILLE, Ky., April 18. After weeks of slow, cautious and expertly supervised preparations, the Kentucky Derby favorite, Chance Sun, and. the western "dark horse" for the race, Weston, today were allowed to unfold their strong and quick-moving legs to such a degree that their condition might be determined, and the result was two almost sensational workouts. Drilling over the Churchill Downs course on which the sixty-first funning of the coveted and valuable fixture will be staged two weeks from Saturday, they fairly dazzled a gallery of horsemen, who stood in a light rain to observe and time 1 them. Despite the morning moisture and intermittent showers during the night, the track was fast, and the two Derby candidates were on the course"iiortIyx after daybreak. Chance Sun, accompanied by SilversmithjJH also three years old, worked one mile in " 1:41, handily, and "jogged" a mile and a furlong in 1:57, while Weston "hooked in" with the four-year-old filly, Fiji, covered eight furlongs in 1:41, breezing, and cantered out the full Derby route of ten furlongs or one mile and a quarter in 2:11. Estimated imposts carried by the two Derby colts were 117 pounds for Chance Sun, and 120 pounds for Weston. They must should der 126 pounds each in the race May 4. With E. D. Shaffers St. Bernard, Conn Smythes Shoeless Joe, C. B. Shaffers Finance and the doubtful starter, Hank Mac-Tavish, owned by H. E. Schuermann and the estate of Woodford F. Axton, also in action, in what was the biggest day or morning from the standpoint of Derby training here this spring. ST. BERNARD IMPRESSES. Although St. Bernard did not work as far as the Joseph E. Widener and Jouett Shouse hopefuls, his three-quarters spin in 1:15, breezing, and an additional quarter in a canter to complete a mile in 1:42, was almost as impressive. Breezing three-quarters in 1:16, Shoeless Joe almost looked good, while Finance "opened up" for something more exacting tomorrow, with a snappy three furlongs in :35, handily, and Hank MacTavish was never far out of an almost choking holdxas he "breezed" three-quarters in 1:19. Trainer Pete Coyne, in charge of the Der-bjr choice, and Jack S. Young, who is directing Westons training, chose to work their charges from the stand, while St. Bernard started at the three-quarters pole; Hank MacTavish from the five furlongs marker, and Finance from the three-eighths pole. A. B. Gordon is looking after St. Bernard and Finance, while D. T. Morris is Hank MacTavishs trainer. Shoeless Joe, trained by Emerson Davis, also worked from the three-quarters pole. HOW THEY WORKED. Running along on even terms throughout, Weston and Fiji completed a quarter in :25, half mile in :49, and three-quarters in 1:14. After passing the mile indicator, Fiji was pulled up, Weston going out the extra quarter mile in :30, unaccompanied. Executing trainer Coynes instructions, Adam Schaug had Chance Sun a short length be-fore Silversmith at all stages during their work. They were timed in :25 for the quarter, :49 for the half mile, and 1:15 for three-quarters. Weston was piloted by Fred Almond. St. Bernard and Shoeless Joe started with quartets in :25, but the former passed the end of four furlongs in :49, against :50 for the Conn Smythe candidate. Finance clicked off the first two furlongs of his pipe-opener" in :23, while Hank MacTavish went the same distance in :27 and the half-mile in :53. Proving that too much had not been, asked of them, all ot the Derby eligibles "cooled out rapidly. Trainer Coynes only comment was, "He appears to be ready and I am satisfied," while Tom Young, in answer to questions, gave the following replies: "Weston may prove a better horse than given credit for. Yes, his work this morning meas-ured up to what we expected of him. Per- Continued on eighteenth page. CHANCE SUN AND WESTON IN FAST DERBY GALLOPS Continued from first page. sonally, I believe our chances are better than we are given credit for." As the hum of training activity echoed through the quarter-mile of the stands and pavilions, Col. M. J. Winn, executive director of the Downs, accompanied by architects, and track superintendent Tom Young, sought out little nooks and corners wherein boxes or seats may be placed to increase the number of the sure record-breaking crowd that will witness the coming Derby. So great has been the demand for seats and boxes that Colonel Winn, in his endeavor to accommodate as many as possible, will not stop until every available inch of space has been utilized. "I hate to do it," he said, "but we must, if possible, take care of some of our tardy customers." Although seats and boxes added this year increase the Downs capacity by almost twenty-five per cent, many applicants for such accommodations will be disappointed, according to Colonel Winn. The demand for reservations, both at the track and hotels, is so great that a Derby throng of 100,000 is in prospect. Such an attendance would place this greatest of horse races among the outstanding sporting events of all times.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1930s/drf1935041901/drf1935041901_1_2
Local Identifier: drf1935041901_1_2
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800