view raw text
, 1 Here and There on the Turf ! Brevity Shows Mudding Ability 1 Coyne Not "Worried About j I Track jj Sidesteps Preakness for Rest J i Jamaica Meeting Progressing 1 Until Saturday at least Brevity may be ex-ipected to continue as the future book favor-ite for the Kentucky Derby, to be renewed the following week-end, but something may occur in the Wood Memorial Stakes running at Jamaica to deprive Joseph E. Wideners speedy colt of the position he has held with but slight interruption since he won the Florida Derby early in March. The son of Sickle and Ormonda, by Superman, has been well supported at the rather ridiculous odds offered against him by the several future jbook operators, even though there has been no established evidence of his ability to run in muddy going. Howver, some of those wagers undoubtedly were made by persons who had some sort of information from the stable that Brevity could handle himself well on an off track. In the comparatively few number of times he has been to the post Brevity has encountered nothing but a fast course, but trainer Pete Coyne has worked the colt on numerous occasions in mud and slop, and he is confident the Widener colt will notbe caught at a disadvantage a week from Saturday, regardless of the condition of the track. I Brevitys latest speed effort over a muddy track was at Churchill Downs Wednesday, iwhen he went six furlongs in 1:15, with his exercise boy having all he could do to hold .back the colt. Coyne paid particular attention to Brevitys action in the mud, and he ,was convinced more than ever after the pleasing performance that the Widener three-year-old doesnt have to pick his track at least at Churchill Downs. The Louisville course has a high percentage of sand and dries out quickly as a consequence, nor does it get nearly as heavy and holding as those tracks having a small content of sand. So there is no valid reason why Brevity shouldnt be the Derby favorite, unless he doesnt happen to be the best colt, which can jonly be proven in the race itself. Trainer Coyne has advanced the reason yvhy Brevity wasnt nominated for the Preakness, and it is the same given by Alex Gordon for Coldstreams absence from the entries to the Pimlico classic. Widener has ""decided that the two events are too close together in the spring to do a colt that is intended for a Belmont campaign any good. Brevity is to be taken back in his training after the Derby in preparation for the With-ers Stakes, a mile race at the Westchester Association course, after which he will be stretched out for the mile and a half dis-tance of the Belmont Stakes. The Florida Derby winner then is due for another iresh-ening up before the Arlington Classic re-newal in July. Then a Saratoga campaign featured by the Travers Stakes will follow, and continuing through the Lawrence Re-alization Stakes and Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Parks fall meeting. I Such a program is calculated to have Brevity fresh and good throughout the year, as well as to minimize the chances of breaking down from too much work. It is not to b,e misconstrued that Brevity has any defections, as he is one of the soundest candidates for three-year-old honors. Apparently the Philadelphia sportsman has taken a cue from the experiences of Omaha and other three-year-old stars that were unable to stand up under campaigns that called for frequent engagements and much traveling. Last year Omaha won the Preakness after the Derby and then was unable to maintain Jhis winning streak in the Withers, although the Belmont fell before his prowess. After accounting for the Classic, Omaha went .wrong and was through for the season. Cavalcade was another that didnt last beyond the Classic, although he was called upon for more usage than Omaha. ! Jamaicas meeting of twenty-two days, which reaches its high mark Saturday with the Wood Memorial running, is proving one Continued on twenty-first pagej HERE AND THERE ON. THE TURF Continued from second, page. of the most successful in its history, not just since the depression. Fino sport has been offered, daily and consequently the attendances have held up very well since a brilliant opening. Eighty or more bookmakers are on the block, daily and they have been, able to accommodate the patrons with much less crowding and pushing. Judging by the way the favorites have been performing, the layers have-been enjoying a good inning, probably more than successful enough to pay their heavy expenses. Even though a tremendous; gathering: is expected Saturday for the Wood,, the momentum of the meeting should continue on through the final twelve days, because more and more good horses, not. necessarily candidates for three-year-old honors, will be brought out for competition.