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WEIGHTS FOR ILLINOIS DERBY 4 Roman Soldier Heads List of Eligibles for Fridays 0,000 Added Attraction at Aurora With 122 Pounds Black Helen 117 Pounds AURORA, 111., May 22. There is every reason to concede that the third renewal of the 0,000 added Illinois Derby, which will be decided Friday, will engage the classiest field ever to compete for the prize. Among the twenty-eight eligible candidates there are no less than three 19S5 Derby winners and, with all three certain starters, the race should provide one of the most spectacular ever witnessed at the Aurora course. Every candidate comes up to the race in fine condition and they should have no excuse, as most of them have raced through the winter months. Those that were inactive have been prepared for the Kentucky Derby and other subsequent stakes which have been decided since May 4. Black Helen, winner of the Florida Derby, is foremost of those eligible to start, and the sturdy but small daughter of Black Toney and La Troienne is reported to be ready to add the Fox Valley stake to her list of victories. Phil Reuter, trainer of Roman Soldier, says his colt has improved 100 per cent since finishing second to Black Helen in the Florida feature, and he has high hopes of his horse reversing the decision next Friday. Reuters statement carries an abundance of conviction, for Roman Soldiers performance in the Texas Derby, which he won, and his second to Omaha in the Kentucky prize, rather vindicates the assertion of Reuter. - Tom Keating brought McCarthy here to win Fridays big event, and if the colt overcomes all the ill luck which he suffered in his race at Churchill Downs there might be a long shot winner of the Illinois Derby. Regardless of what is said of McCarthy, the patrons will pin their hopes on Black Helen: and. Roman Soldier. Whiskolo must be reckoned with, his races in the Santa Anita and Texas Derbys can not be ignored. Both performances, were smashing efforts and, while he was defeated, the margins of his successful rivals were not of a decisive degree. Another formidable candidate is W. S. Continued on twenty-eighth page. WEIGHTS FOR ILLINOIS DERBY .Continued from first page. Kilmers Sun Fairplay, which finished second - to Plat Eye in the Chesapeake Stakes 3 when beaten but a neck by the Greentree J Stable colt. A repetition of that race makes 3 him a dangerous contender. Mrs. C. Haines-wonths Blackbirder could come through J with a surprise and the same could be said 1 of Mrs. Silas B. Masons Sun Portland, so 5 there is logic in the assertion that the race 2 will probably be a thriller. " The Illinois Derby is the first of the im portant stakes which are offered during the long Illinois season? and while it has been I lpoked upon as a minor among the major v stakes, this years running will attract the e keenest interest ever shown in the running ; of the race. With the training period virtually - over, there is little to be done with the e candidates to tighten them for Fridays race. i. Unlike the Kentucky Derby, in which the e starters carry scale weight, the Illinois s Derby is governed by conditions which arc c f - 3 J 3 J 1 5 2 I v e ; - e i. e s c as follows: Weights, 126 pounds. Non-win- ners of 0,000 or 0,000 twice allowed 4 t pounds; 0,000 or ,000 twice, 7 pounds; I ,500, other than claiming, 10 pounds; ,500, , or three races, 12 pounds; two races, 15 pounds. One mile and one-eighth. Unless there is heavy rainfall between now r and Friday, the track should be at its best t and already several bets have been made that the winner of the Derby will establish a new track record, with the provision the track is fast. Following are the probable starters and weights they will carry: Horse. Wt. Horse. Wt. Roman Soldier.. .122 Transmutable ...114 Black Helen 117 Clang 114 Sand Cloud 116 Sun Fairplay 114 Whiskolo 116 Dark Woman 111 McCarthy 116 Calumet Dick.. ..Ill Blackbirder . . . .116 Blue Armor Ill Prince Splendor! 116 Skip It Ill Sun Portland.... 114 Slim Rosie. . . ... .109
