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TEXAS DERBY WINNER Roman Soldier Among Large Shipment Reaching Louisville. Nellie Flag, Another Colorful Candidate for Kentucky Derby, Arrives With Calumet Horses. LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 22 Roman Soldier and Nellie Flag, two of the most colorful in an array of twenty or more three-year-olds which will go to the post for the sixty-first Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs here one week from Saturday, are now at that famous course. The former leading winter racing candidate for the coveted Kentucky classic headed a six-car shipment of thoroughbreds from Arlington Downs, Texas, while Nellie Flag, one of the greatest fillies eyer pointed for the race, was vanned over from Calumet Farm, just outside Lexington. Whiskolo, which finished second to Roman Soldier in the Texas Derby at Arlington Downs Saturday; Prince Splendor, which accounted for fourth honors in the same race; Gallaclay, Blue Armor, South Gallant and Bert Reid were other Kentucky Derby nominees in the big shipment from the Lone Star state. Nellie Flag was accompanied by four also eligible for the prized turf fixture. They were Calumet Dick, Skip It, Some Bull and Black Hat. When put away in specially prepared quarters at the Downs, all of the Derby horses were reported in fine condition. Other horses in the Texas shipment also stood the long trip well, according to the trainers of the several stables. Nellie Flag and her four stablemates are owned by Warren Wright of Chicago, master of Calumet Farm. Roman Soldier is the property of Elwood Sachsenmaier of Atlantic City and Phil Reuter of New Orleans. Whiskolo, Gallaclay, Blue Armor and South Gallant race for the Milky Way Farms Stable of Mrs. F. C. Mars, also of Chicago. T. C. Worden, another prominent Chicago patron, is the owner of Prince Splendor and Bert Reid. As it was a virtual holiday for Derby can didates already on the scene, arrival of the Continued on sixteenth page. i TEXAS DERBY WINNER Continued from first page. R brilliant filly, the Texas Derby winner and other candidates was awaited and witnessed with great interest by horsemen and track visitors. Roman Soldier reached the Derby course about eleven a. m. and Nellie Flag was unloaded about an hour and one-half later. Roman Soldier and his stable companions were put away in the private J. E. Widener barn, "the Soldier," as trainer Reuter calls the Texas Derby winner, being at the opposite end of a long row of stalls from Wideners Chance Sun, the Derby favorite. Nellie Flag and the four others in the Wright quintet, took up quarters In the old Audley Farm barn. Trainer B. B. Williams personally directed their loading and unloading and as the Derby filly is not much of a traveler, he was greatly pleased by the fact that scarcely a hair was ruffled when she stepped from the motor van at the scene of her impending engagement. Track superintendent Tom Young put Mrs. Mars string of twenty-three away in the almost palatial private barn just off the Downs mile chute and which vas constructed by C. E. Durnell several years ago and also had choice quarters in complete readiness for the Worden establishment of twenty-one head. Robert McGarvey is the Milky Way Farms trainer and B. A. Jones, another old Kentucky spring regular, is looking after the Worden string. The crack older filly, Wise Daughter, and no small number of two-year-olds in the stable, aroused much favorable comment as the Milky Way Farms horses were led through the Downs to their new quarters. Others in the Worden stable included Hope Eternal, Navanod, Opening Night, Contingency, Net Profit, Moms Choice, Mable Miller, Slam, Rubio, Royal Rover, Uncle Less and eight additional juveniles. This entire string also looked extra well. Todays arrivals increased the number of Derby eligibles at Churchill Downs and nearby Douglas Park to twenty-seven, and trainer H. J. Thompson with E. R. Bradleys Boxthorn and Big Gawk, is expected tomorrow from Idle Hour Stock Farm. In addi-dition to Chance Sun other of the more prominent candidates at the Derby course are Conn Smythes Shoeless Joe and Direct Hit; C. D. Shaffers Finance; E. D. Shaffers St. Bernard; J. F. Flanigans Chance-view; Mrs. R. H. Fairbanks Bluebeard; Mrs. C. Hainesworths Blackbirder; Axton and Scheuermanns Hank MacTavish; Brownell Combs Cornito; W. E. Hupps Bobbys Son and J. W. Parrishs Jawapa. "Bobbys Son was the lone hopeful to do anything of a serious nature under fine conditions this morning. Trainer W. G. Sparks sent the son of Bunting a mile and he appeared to find it much of a task to cover the distance in 1:45. After a half mile in AH, he was joined by Sun Boy but after three-quarters in 1:14, Bobbys Son fell back to a much slower pace, the seven furlongs being timed in 1:29. Others Reuter brought in from Texas were Plight, Changeling, Epaulet, Phyllis R., Resurrection, Keep Out and Kozak, and he is bringing Cooley and Aga Ray on from Maryland. Plight is eligible for the Clark Handicap to be run Saturday, opening day of the Downs meeting. The A. Pelleteri stable of twelve, which went to Douglas Park, also A. B. Letellier with six; C. E. Gross, one; B. J. Durnell, two; W. Hoag, one, and R. N. Vestal, one, also were in the six cars from Arlington Downs. Reuter announced that Lester Balaski, the New Orleans boy, who rode Plight last year and Roman Soldier to their victories in the Texas Derby, has been engaged to pilot the latter Reuter-Sachsenmaier colt in the Kentucky Derby. Sail of which were in stakes. The Whitney colt might have crashed through to prominence last season but an injured foot bothered him in the last four of his starts and finally resulted in his retirement for the year in August. Trainer Thomas J. Healey gave Today his first taste of competition in the Juvenile Stakes at Belmont Park and the Whitney colt came through with a splendid performance as he finished fourth, beaten less than five lengths by Plat Eye. Psychic Bid and Angelic, two other precocious and classy youngsters, also preceded him to the finish. A few days later the son of Whichone sprinted five furlongs straightaway in :59 at Belmont Park to gain his only victory of the year. He finished many lengths ahead of his nearest competitor. Unable to fulfill his engagement in the National Stallion Stakes, Today was put by until late in July at Arlington Park, where the rich Arlington Futurity awaited. In an allowance event at six furlongs he was installed an odds-on favorite, but had the misfortune to be opposed by Nellie Flag, which was in tip-top form at the time, while he probably wasnt. The sturdy Calumet miss defeated him by two lengths, but Todays effort was entirely satisfactory to his connections. In the Arlington Futurity, Today was moving strongly in third position at about the three-sixteenths post when he swerved slightly under the whip and when he did so he split his hoof. This injury undoubtedly prevented the Whichone colt from finishing any stronger than he did. However, he wound up in fourth place, just a length back of the victorious Toro Nancy, while he was lapped on St.. Bernard and Special Agent. Trainer Healey did what he could in fixing up Todays injury, which, although slight, could be painful at times, and the colt started in the United States Hotel Stakes, running second to Balladier, losing by two and a half lengths. He was well up all the way, but could not improve his position through the stretch as Balladier went along in his best stride. A week later the Whitney colorbearer attempted to annex the Saratoga Special and again he raced evenly, being close up with the early pace, but not being able to make a challenge when called upon. As a consequence, Today finished third, but only a length separated him from the winner, Box-thorn, while the speedy Plat Eye was second, a few inches ahead of him. With the attractive Hopeful Stakes still in view, Healey tried Today in the Sanford Stakes and once more the son of Whichone went along with the early pace, but could not bear down in the stretch when asked for his run, yet he held his ground and at the wind-up was in fourth place, less than four lengths back of Psychic Bid. Closely attending the winner were Omaha and Box-thorn. Today did no running last year, as his injury became so aggravated that a long rest was ordered. Apparently that has done the trick, as the colt is in tip-top condition and sound as he can be. In his first start as a three-year-old Today toyed with Nautch, Bachelor Dinner and other fair horses of his age that had the benefit of seasoning and dashed six furlongs at Havre de Grace in 1:12. From a breeding standpoint, Today leaves little to be desired. A member of the first crop of foals by Whichone, the Futurity winner which combines the blood of Spearmint, Hanover, Broomstick and Peter Pan, Today traces through his dam to Prince Palatine, Broomstick and Sir Dixon. There is not a flaw in this combination, which gives him a double cross of Broomstick, but in addition he is a half brother of the crack campaigner, The Nut, while his second dam, Matinee, was a sister of Whisk Broom II. Afternoon was a half sister of Matinee Idol, Candy Kid and Rialto, all good stakes winners, and was the granddam of Top Flight.
