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ji --------------------- j Here and There on the Turf Sun Portland Enters Limelight Derby Victory Shows Him Good Colt Lacks Immediate Engagements Suburban Hopes Train Smartly - ? Mrs. Silas B. Mason doesnt own many horses and most of those in her string were purchased after they had been to the races for some time, but no one can say she hasnt enjoyed her full share of success. Practically on the eve of the 1933 Kentucky Derby she purchased Head Play, which was narrowly beaten in the classic, but redeemed himself in the Preakness a week later. Out of racing for a year because of an injury, the veteran son of My Play and Red Head, by King Gorin, came back during the past . winter to be one of the outstanding horses in California racing, winning three stakes at Santa Anita and Bay Meadows, including the 5,000 event at the latter course. Just a few days ago the Mason star took a decision over Cavalcade and he Is now regarded as a strong possibility for the Suburban Handicap Thursday. The Mason fortunes do not begin and end with Head Play, however, as the Kentucky sportswoman made another purchase during the Pimlico meeting which is turning out to be a very fine selection. Her silks were carried to victory in the third running of the Illinois Derby Friday at Aurora by Sun Portland, a colt selected by trainer J. Thomas Continued on thirteenth page. HERE AND THERE ON THE TURF .Continued from second page. Taylor as a likely prospect no longer ago than three weeks. Sun Portlands triumph in the Illinois Derby was his third, in a row and third in his career, as he was a maiden when sold to Mrs. Mason by Willis Sharpe Kilmer. No mention was made of the price paid for the bay son of Sun Briar and Portland Urn, by Sbn-in-Iaw, but whatever it was, the colt must have paid himself out by now. He earned ,570 in his Illinois Derby victory and was the medium of an extensive plunge at Belmont Park in his previous effort. Sun Portland appears to be a colt that has just come to himself. He made three starts as a juvenile, just missing victory in one of them. In his first start this spring, the Sun Briar three-year-old displayed enough ability in a race .against St. Mbritz, Billy Bee and Galon Boy to catch the eye of trainer Taylor and his sale to "Mrs. Mason occurred a short time later. In a second start this spring Sun Portland was narrowly beaten in muddy going, but he came back in a maiden event to lead all the way and score by six lengths in a test at a mile and seventy yards. He moved to Belmont Park, where he ran a mile in 1:38 to defeat Allen Z., Cheshire, Satra-pal and other lesser lights among-the three-year-olds, but the? effort impressed Taylor so much that Sun Portland was sent out to .xt- Aurora for the Illinois Derby. . Although Sun Portland carried 114 pounds in the Illinois Derby and was in receiptof eight pounds from Roman. Soldier, beating the favorite by the narrow margin of.. a. neck, his performance was? most creditable. If the Mason, colt is still on the upgrade, he may make some trouble for other leading threeyear-olds before the season is out Unfortunately, he is not among the nominations of the American Derby and other such events which closed before he displayed so much promise. Therefore it may be a couple of months before Sun Portland gets his opportunity against Omaha. In the meantime, he will have the chance to bag some minor events here and there. - While Roman Soldier is regarded as a better colt than Sun Portland, judging by the Illinois Derby running, the Sachsenmaier and Reuter racer furnishes an excellent line on the latters ability. Roman Soldier was second in the Kentucky Derby and won the Texas Derby and other winter events, so therefore he is no slouch. He came through with a smashing performance in the Aurora special in holding Sun Portland, to a neck decision as the mile and a furlong vfaa covered in the excellent time of 1:50, just one-fifth off the track record established by the speedy Mata Hari a year ago. That probably was Roman Soldiers race, but a suspicion is entertained that Sun Portland will Improve some more. The more thought given the Suburban Handicap running Thursday, the more the event shapes up as one of the most attractive events ever staged in this country, especially among the older horses. That Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilts Discovery and William R. Coes Ladysman are in excellent condition for their Suburban engagement, is shown by their trials over the full distance, the other morning. Discovery was timed in 2:06 and Ladysman, in 2:07, in efforts that show both of them ready for the question. Singing Wood is another that has trained smartly, showing a mile and a furlong in 1:54 in easy fashion. No liberties can be taken with any one of the trio because all are fast horses with considerable class and at the arrangement of weights they must be regarded as dangerous even though their opponents include Cavalcade, King Saxon, Head Play and possibly Omaha.
