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v f Here and There on the Turf Wood Memorial Test Decide Derby Favorite I Wise Duke Superior Jockey Mack Garner - . 4 Tomorrows running of the Wood Memorial Stakes at Jamaica very probably will determine the post favorite for the Kentucky Derby. With the Chesapeake Stakes winner Plat Eye going against Today, Omaha, Psychic Bid and other three-year-olds which have looked well in early racing this season in the mile and seventy yards test, to which the Metropolitan Jockey Club is adding 0,000, the hero of the event may very well command favoritism for the 0,000 Churchill Downs special ensuing a week later. Not in its history has the Wood Memorial shaped up as such an attraction and, with Plat Eye victorious over Commonwealth in the Chesapeake and the western-trained three-year-old prospects held back in their preparation, the Jamaica feature can very easily produce the Derby favorite at post time, as well as in future quotations of Frank Shannon and Tom Kearney during the coming week. Just which of the leading candidates for the Wood will be made the favorite in the opening line is a matter for persons much more experienced in that business than the writer, .and whether the public will accept the bookmakers line or force a change also is something to conjure with. Omaha cer-lainly- will have a strong following in view of his steady training during the past few months and his fine effort in competition Tuesday. Today looked very good in capturing a six furlongs dash at Havre de Grace a week ago and he indicated his fitness for euch. a race as the Wood by breezing a mile and one furlong the other morning at the Harford course in 1:55. Plat Eye naturally will be well-supported because of his Chesapeake triumph, while Psychic Bid shaded 1:40 for the mile in a workout at Belmont Park recently. Some trouble for these colts may be instigated by the winter-seasoned anil improved Mantagna. Doings in Maryland tomorrow and at Churchill Downs Saturday and Tuesday may have a strong influence in counteracting the effects of the Wood Memorial renewal. Commonwealth is due for another test before he transfers his activity to Churchill Downs and if Mrs. Walter Jeffords gelding improves off his Chesapeake effort as well as his strongest admirers believe he will, he .might overshadow the best colt produced by the Wood. In the Blue Grass, Chance Sun, which has ruled as the undisputed choice since the Derby nominations were announced, up until recently, may be expected to start in an overnight event. The training given Joseph E. Wideners colt by trainer Pete Coyne suggests that Chance Sun will be given a public tightener as soon as possible, with a workout over a longer distance expected during the. middle of next week. Many observers have reached the conclusion that Chance Sun is behind in his Derby preparation and will have to prove his fitness" before they will be strong for him in the Kentucky classic. In the meantime Nellie Flag, only filly of importance among the Derby entries, exhibited keen speed in her first workout at Churchill Downs, after having been . prepped at the farm. She also is due to have a preliminary race. The finish of the Aberdeen Stakes, in which H. H. Hectors Wise Duke defeated the Everglades Stables Deliberator, both colts trained by Sherill Ward, seems to prove that the former is superior to the latter. The sons of Wise Counsellor had their first meeting in the Hialeah Juvenile Champion Stakes, with Wise Duke halting the winning streak of Deliberator by beating him a head in the three furlongs dash. In that event Deliberator gave his running mate five pounds and was bumped by him several times through the stretch. In the Aberdeen they carried equal weights of 119 pounds and Deliberator set the pace, being compelled to race Billie Bane into submission while doing it. Wise Duke was always in close attendance and came up in the stretch to repeat his Florida victory over Deliberator. Wise Duke went into the Aberdeen with two races during the Maryland season behind him. While they were disappointing efforts, they served to have him ready for the fine performance he exhibited in the Havre de Grace stake. Deliberator has not been to the post since his previous clash with his stablemate, and it is very possible he was in need of a good sharpener for his best race. Much must have been taken out of him in racing Billie Bane into, defeat. The Illinois-bred colt had shown- himself in California and Texas to be possessed of good speed and class and he was a thoroughly fit colt in the Aberdeen. As a consequence some doubt must still exist as to which of the two sons of Wise Counsellor is the better. The Aberdeen certamly failed to be thoroughly convincing, and a future meet- Continued on twenty-first page.. HERE AMD THERE ON THE TURF Continued from second page. ing of the two youngsters may be necessary. At the moment they appear about equal in ability, and may continue that way throughout the season. Andrew Mack Garner, who is now embarked on his twenty-first year of riding, has returned to the service of J. Cal Milam, who left his native Alabama to become one of Kentuckys most noted trainers. Garner has not ridden for Milam in a decade, but back in that period when racing on the Three L Circuit was just as important as any in the country, the Centerville, Iowa, jockey was just about the kingpin. A perusal of Kentucky stakes shows that he won practically every important race at that time, with the exception, of the Derby, which he did not land Until last spring with Cavalcade. The Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, Latonia Derby, Latonia Championship, Lar tonia Cup, Kentucky Oaks and numerous handicaps and juvenile events all show Garners hame on their list of winning jockeys. The strength, of Milams stable is not known, but; the Blue Grass liorseman made it a customj of bobbing up from year to year with one or more worth while horses.-Among his good ones were Kentucky Cardinal, P,as S5eul, Miss Jemima, Miss Joy, Lady Madcap and Anna M. Humphrey. Patronage at Havre de Grace, as It did at Bowie, improved so much over that or a year ago that managements of the Maryland courses now do not care so much whether Governor Nice signs the bill passed by the legislature to aid them, or allows it to die a natural death. Havre de Grace is not employing the "Daily Double," as did Bowie, but its business has picked up just the same, although the percentage of increase is not quite as large as that enjoyed at the southern Maryland course. The "Daily Double" undoubtedly has proven very popular with Maryland fans, and it aided Bowies attendance considerably, but this unique form of wagering was the saviour of the Bowie meeting as genial Mort Mahoney would have us believe. Bad weather during the early portion of the Havre session had its usual influence, but with the return of sunshine and the advent of better horses, a steady improvement has. been noted. A good crowd was out for the running of the Aberdeen, and a better one will be present Saturday when the Philadelphia Handicap features the closing program.
