Wideners Fourth Attempt: Noted Philadelphia Sportsman Holds His Best Hand in Brevity.; Expects to Carry Off Coveted Race With Outstanding Favorite for Sixty-Second Kentucky Derby., Daily Racing Form, 1936-05-02

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WIDENERS FOURTH ATTEMPT ♦ Noted Philadelphia Sportsman Holds His Best Hand in Brevity. » Expects to Carry Off Coveted Race With Outstanding Favorite for Sixty-Second Kentucky Derby. LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 1.— J. E. Widener, Philadelphia sportsman, and president of the Westchester Racing Association and the Miami Jockey Club, is making his fourth attempt to win the Kentucky Derby this year. His red and white striped silks with black cap have been carried to victory in such important races as the Belmont Stakes, Belmont Futurity, Jockey Club Gold Cup and Grand Wational Steeplechase, but never in the nations most popular fixture. His first attempt was made in 1927 with Osmand, a half brother to Brevity, Wide-ners hopeful this year but the gelded son of Sweeper and Ormonda was unable to hold his speed to the end of the mile and a quarter and he lost a close decision to the late Harry Payne Whitneys Whiskery. Earl Sande rode a great race on Osmand but the combination of Whiskery and Linus McAtee who rode the latter proved invincible. The Philadelphia sportsman did not make another try for the Derby until three years ago when Peace Chance was prepared for the race. The son of Chance Shot qualified for the engagement by establishing a new Churchill Downs record of 1:35% for the mile in winning the Derby Trial Purse. In the Derby, however, he suffered considerable bad luck just after the start and was well out of the running until the final quarter where Peace Chance closed very stoutly to finish fifth behind Cavalcade, Discovery, Agrarian and Mata Hari. He had no such bad luck in the Belmont Stakes, however, and scored a very decisive victory, his victims including High Strung which had nosed out Cavalcade in the Preakness Stakes. Last year Wideners hope was Chance Sun which had won the Belmont Futurity the previous autumn but the Chance Shot colt followed the way of all previous Futurity winners that had tried for the Derby and did not live up to expectations. On the strength of his Futurity triumph, Chance Sun was the future book favorite but after he had started twice in preliminary events at the Downs and gave dismal performances he was declared out of the Derby and was retired for the season. He was found to be suffering from an ankle injury. Brevity is considered the best colt from the Widener stable ever trained for the Derby and as good a three-year-old prospect as was Chance Shot. The son of Sickle and Ormonda went to the post three times last year winning at the first asking and capturing the Champagne Stakes. He was caught in a bad jam while making his run in the Hopeful Stakes and finished sixth although beaten less than two lengths. In three starts this year, Brevity has not been defeated. His first victory was in a mile race at Hialeah Park and this was followed by an easy triumph in the Florida Derby in which he equalled what then was the American record of 1:48 % held by Discovery for the mile and a furlong. He carried 126 pounds whereas Indian Broom shouldered but 94 pounds when he lowered the mark to 1:47%, a few weeks ago at Tanforan.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1930s/drf1936050201/drf1936050201_16_3
Local Identifier: drf1936050201_16_3
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800