view raw text
j Here and There j on the Turf j Derby Strategy in Making .. J Field Full of Speedsters j j Few Plodders Are Listed j Public Likes Wayne Wright J Owners, trainers and jockeys of Kentucky Derby horses are in frequent conference these last hectic hours before the running of the Churchill Downs classic, working out j their battle programs for tomorrows race. The connections of come-from-behind horses | hardly are relied upon to adopt a particular formula to use during the long, gruelling mile and a quarter struggle because with them it is a question of whether their charges can get up in time or the speedsters will come back to them or both. Such is not the case with the boards of strategy of those free running colts which can or cannot be rated. They are trying to figure out which horse or horses will be deliberately sent to the front, if able, and if any of them will attempt to make a runaway of the race. Clyde Van Dusen was the last horse to succeed in this trick, but he had a sloppy track in his favor and splashed mud on the trailers all the way around the course. Previously, Bubbling Over smothered his field with limitless speed. Two years ago Mata Hari tried to stretch her speed over the Derby cc arse, but became weary after the first mile, and Cavalcade, Discovery and Agrarian overtook her in the final quarter. In 1927, Osmand practiced his speed on the field and it worked on all but Whiskery, which Linus McAtee brought up in the stretch with a challenge that could not be denied, even though Earl Sande tried some of his art on the little Celt. Sande was successful with just such a horse when he piloted Flying Ebony to victory in 1926. although Gifford Cochians colt was never permitted to draw out into much of a lead. Flying Ebony had Captain Hal as an immediate adversary, and Sande rated his mount along so effectively while feinting Jake Heu-pel into one impossible situation after another that the son of The Finn was able to stick it out in front. The speed horses in this years renewal are headed by Indian Broom, the flashy invader from California. The fori.ier Brook-meade colt, now sporting the silks of Maj. Austin C. Taylor of Vancouver, led all the way while establishing a new worlds record for the mile and a furlong recently at Tan-foran, and he proved to observers tt Churchill Downs that he had lost none of his speed during the trip over the Rockies in a sensational mile workout Tuesday. In that trial the son of Brooms stepped six furlongs in 1:11%, and if he attempts to do /Continued on twenty-sixth page.l ♦ HERE AND THERE ON THE TURF Continued from second page. the same in the Derby he more than likely will take a good lead, unless some of the other speedsters go with him. Coldstream is gifted with a fine burst of speed, which he demonstrated in setting the pace in the Clark Handicap and, of course, Brevity has more than a local reputation for his ability to step by the posts in rapid fashion. He won the Florida Derby in record time by outrunning his rivals anl in the Sophomores Purse at Louisville last Saturday was sent to the front right after the start to race Sangreal into defeat and go on to a clean-cut victory. He Did is another free-runner, but judging by the manner in which he came from behind to outgame Sangreal and Grand Slam the other day, Mrs. Silas Masons representative can be rated. In that race Sangreal proved that he does just as well, if not better, by being reserved off the early pace. His stablemate, The Fighter, has speed, but under expert handling he is willing to save it until the crucial moment. Bold Venture is another fast horse, but although he ran away from his company in his only start this season, he came from behind in his best performance last year, in which he defeated Grand Slam and Valevictorian in a six furlongs sprint at Saratoga. Granville also is gifted with speed, but he apparently is a colt which shouldnt be placed in the position of wasting it in the early stages. Grand Slam and Bien Joli have speed enough to keep within striking distance of the leaders, but cant be expected to do their best when put to much use during the early running. The plodders among the probable starters are Gold Seeker, Teufel and Banister, and most likely the instructions to their jockeys will be to keep out of trouble and save ground as much as possible during the first three-quarters, permitting them to go after the leaders during the final half mile if they are able. With the Derby candidates having various characteristics, good riding is almost a necessity for victory. One reason for Brevitys position as favorite all along was the knowledge that Wayne Wright would be in the saddle. Grand Slam certainly should be benefited through the appearance of Raymond "Sonny" Workman on his back, and whichever one of the Milky Way Farms entry Alfred Robertson rides can be assured of intelligent handling. In Eddie Arcaro, Count Morse has one of the countrys outstanding jockeys for aid, while Nick Wall on Coldstream; Lester Balaski on Bien Joli; Charles Kurtsinger on He Did, and Eddie Litzenberger on Teufel, all are riders with experience in races ranking in importance with the Derby. . ■ - -
