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I THREE-YEAR-OLD PROSPECTS OF 1936 THE FIGHTER, Bay Colt, by Bull Dog Bridgeen- Property of Mrs. Ethel Mars Milky Way Farms Stable, Has Won Five Straight Races This Year, Including the Texas Derby. He Is Now at Churchill Downs Finishing His Training for the Kentucky Derby. See Kentucky Derby Book for Past Performances. By NORRIS BOYDEN. ....... ......... ........... r One of the large group of good two-year-olds last year that has begun early this season to gain three-year-old recognition is The Fighter, son of Bull Dog and Bridgeen, by Dominant, in the increasingly powerful Milky Way Farms Stable of Mrs. Ethel V. Mars. This colt has been cutting a wide svath at Arlington Downs in recent weeks in preparation for his engagement in the Kentucky Derby, in which- he figures as one of the outstanding candidates. The Fighter won six of his eleven starts as a juvenile including the Grand Union Hotel Stakes at Saratoga. This was his most important triumph as he turned back such notables as White Cockade, Snark, Eow to Me, Postage Due, Mariel and othei-smart youngsters over the six furlongs course. He also gained first honors in the Remsen Handicap at Jamaica, in which Teufel, Postage Due and Wha Hae were among those in his wake at the windup. Trainer Robert McGarvey gave The Fighter a comparatively early start on his career as he was sent to the post at Churchill Downs on May 10 in a maiden event that he won in impressive fashion. He had no chance in the large field in the Prairie State Stakes at Washington Park in his next outing and was never close, thereupon he was put away for five weeks until an allowance affair at Arlington Park, which he took by a neck over Miss Prudence. This was followed by another race at five and one-half furlongs, which he ran in 1:04, within a fifth of the track record. His victims in this fast race included Night Alarm, Erin Torch and Jamboree. In a third such affair at Arlington, the Milky Way colt won again, this time at the expense of Empty Bottle, Bow and Arrow and Victorious Ann. Held out of the Arlington Futurity because of the muddy condition of the course, the Bull Dog colt waited more than a month before going postward again, but despite the layoff he came back good enough to capture the Grand Union for his fourth consecutive victory as well as most impressive and decisive. His margin at the end of the six furlongs over White Cockade was a length and one-half. In the Hopeful Stakes the Milky Way colorbearer was unable to gain a forward position in the early stages but made up considerable ground in the stretch to be beaten only three lengths by Red Rain. He was by no means disgraced by the performance, and with the breaks would have battled with the leaders. Moving to Aqueduct The Fighter lost a half-length decision to Ned Reigh in the Junior Champion Stakes, weakening right at the end after holding a good lead in the stretch. Very probably his connections attribute this defeat wholly or in part to The Fighters inclination to loaf after he gets to the front. At any rate, his riders since have had strict orders to rate him back of the pace until near the finish. This was done in his next start, the Remsen, in which he took command in the final furlong. The Fighter failed to find the" straight course at Belmont Park suitable to his fancy, and he weakened in an overnight event won by Tintagel and the Champagne Stakes taken by Brevity, going unplaced in both as he gave weight to the winners and most of the other starters. He did not start in the Futurity and the Champagne was his final outing as a two-year-old. Taken to California with the Santa Anita Derby in view, The Fighter was nosed out by Valevictorian in his first start and then was unable to start in that 5,000 race because a long spell of rainy weather prevented him getting ready. It seems The Fighter cares only for a fast track. Before leaving the West Coast, however, he stepped six furlongs in 1:11 to handily defeat Clean Out, First Minstrel and Manners Man, all capable older performers which got weight on the scale from The Fighter. He kept up his winning streak at Texas through a record-breaking performance at a mile and seventy yards after taking two sprints of six furlongs. mile and seventy yards after taking two sprints of six furlongs. His climaxed his winter campaign by a splendid triumph in the Texas Derby, in which he ran a mile and an eighth in 15156 to beat Rushaway, Holl Image and five others. He is now at Churchill Downs training for his big objective and will not lack admirers on Derby Day, May 2. The Fighter has two crosses of Domino with one of Bull Dog, whose brother Sir Gallahad HI., bred to a -daughter of Celt grandson of Domino, produced Gallant Fox. Celt sired The Fighters second dam. The Milky Way colt also combines a Ben Brush cross with the blood of his sire, and he is from one of the steadiest-producing families in this country. He is a well-made, good-looking colt of ample size and has sufficient speed, but probably will have his troubles staving off the rushes of more natural stayers in the stretch runs of such long events as the Kentucky Derby. f Flying Fox Orme fAjax - I Varr.pire lAnnic J Clamart J Alice f-Tj fBay Ronald.... 5 Hampton - LRondeau J Black Duchess lDoremi......... Bend Or g1 Lady Emily rfM fCarbine Musket a r Spearmint......... - I Mersey - 3 LMaidof the Mint..... Minting ,J Warble I fSt. Simon... ..... Galopin pj f3 S l-Concertina....... J , St. Angela . L Comic.Song. .". ! Petrarch r . - Frivolity E S J . r Ben Brush Bramble H fDelhi.......;....... ...... 1 j Ro.eville G pa . c ... " L Veva... , .i Mortemor P c J ? Lizzie Lucas f Domino Himyar c Q I Dominoes..... V.. Mannie Gray g LEditha Master Kildare Lg, J . Violet Melrose tt f Commando Domino EmmaC. fCelt - J j LMaidof Erin . Amphion - ts J Mavourncen CI Q fEon Eolus L Network 5 War Song - LEonette.-. Eolhen Castagnette j
