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r Here and There j j on the Turf i Balladier Will Try Comeback j Has Been Out Since 1934 j Futurity Boxthorn Getting Long Race j ! Bradley Has Only Eight Young- J sters t l 1 -- Only during a few of the many years he has been an owner of thoroughbreds has the stable of Edward Riley Bradley proved strong in the older division, and this season probably will prove no exception. When H. J. Thompson takes the main division of the stable away from Idle Hour Farm soon he will not have a single candidate for spring handicap racing available, but he hopes that 1 later in the season he will be able to send out Balladier and Boxthorn in quest of honors. Both colts are four-year-olds and havent had very much racing, but only because of unsoundness. It is because of this condition that the Bradley forces can only hope for good results and not expect them with confidence. Balladier now is being legged up by pulling a sulky daily at the Lexington trotting track for Hunter Moody, and Boxthorn is turned out at Idle Hour Farm with no intention of being put back in training for several weeks yet. Both colts were brilliant as two-year-olds, Balladier particularly so. A son of Black Toney and Blue Warbler, he had shown Colonel Bradley promise of developing into another Blue Larkspur, but he pulled up lame just before the Eastern Shore Handicap and hasnt been on a race track since. He went to the post five times as a youngster and scored three victories, two of which were in the United States Hotel Stakes and Champagne Stakes. Favored in the Belmont Futurity, the Bradley colt had to be content with second honors back of Chance Sun. As soon as practicable after his injury at Havre de Grace, Balladier was sent to the farm in order that he might have as much time as possible to grow out of his trouble so that he might be prepared for three-year-old racing, but the stable wasnt satisfied with his condition and decided to give him another year. Boxthorns principal success as a two-year-old was in the Saratoga Special, being suddenly called upon to uphold the stable when illness struck Black Helen and Balladier wasnt quite fit for the engagement. The son of Blue Larkspur and Doreid also was third in the Sanford Stakes. In eight starts he won two races and second and third each once. Despite his infirmities he went to the post five times last season to score two victories and place once, one of his triumphs coming in the Commonwealth Stakes at Suffolk Downs. Boxthorn does not appear as good a prospect as Balladier, although he may be sounder because the latter gives more promise of holding his own over a distance of ground. He had more class as a two-year-old than his stablemate, and Boxthorn hasnt improved any to dispute this contention now. A majority of the horses Thompson will take to the races are three-year-olds, headed by the Kentucky Derby candidates Banister, Bien Joli and Bow to Me. The others of this age are Bashful Lover, Beanie M., Behind Me, Bijuro, Bleu, Bonnie Lois and Bootmaker. Beanie M., winner of the Matron Stakes, is the outstanding filly prospect in the group, but she did not develop during the winter quite as well as trainer Thompson had hoped. Bleu, a sister to Balladier that has never started, may show up to be a good one, but as far as she is concerned the Bradley connections are from Missouri. The oddly bred Bonnie Lois had speed last season, but she doesnt appear solid enough to be of Oaks caliber. Only eight two-year-olds are in the group now being trained at the farm, because most of the crop went under the auctioneers hammer at Saratoga last fall. Those retained are equally divided as to sex, the colts including Bet a Million, a brother to the Illinois Oaks winner, Bamboula; Billionaire, a brother to the Kentucky Derby winner, Brokers Tip; Biologist, a half brother to the sensational filly, Black Helen, and Brooklyn, a brother to Bloodroot. With Balladier and Boxthorn unable to hold up the Bradley prestige in three-year-old racing, Black Helen and Bloodroot came to their rescue and finished first and second on several occasions. Thompson frankly admits that he doesnt know much about his youngsters, as they werent tried as strenuously last fall as customary, but he is in no hurry to get them to the races and will do so only as they come to hand.
