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WITHERSSTAKES TODAY Ten of Best Ranking Three-Year-Olds to Contest in Noted Race. Brevity, Red Rain, Mr. Bones, Bien Joli, Coldstream and Other Stars Among Those Named. NEW YORK, N. Y., May 22. It cannot be remembered in the long and glorious history of the Withers Stakes when it held out more promise of a better contest than is offered by the ten eligibles that are named to go to the post Saturday afternoon at Belmont Park. First run in 1864, this mile race has always been one of the greatest prizes for three-year-olds, but there have been few runnings indeed where so many have been found of the first quality and apparently so close together in the matter of class. Under its conditions they all take up even weights of 118 pounds and except for its abbreviated distance it could readily be a championship test. It leads up to a championship with the Belmont Stakes at a mile and a half to be decided over the same course June 6. With all of these going to the post, the running will have a value of 0,950, of which the Westchester Racing Association contributes ,000 in added money. On paper probably the greatest interest will be in the meeting of Joseph E. Wideners Brevity and C. V. Whitneys Red Rain. Brevity created a sensation when he was such an easy winner of the Florida Derby and he lost none of his admirers when only beaten a short head by Bold Venture in the Kentucky Derby, in which he suffered some interference, and in the opinion of many was a better horse than the winner. Then Red Rain, winner of the Hopeful of last year, in which Brevity was beaten, was whipped by Delphinium in his only race this year, but like the Widener colt, he proved himself in. that running. Both of these have been brought up to the Withers in a fashion to promise thorough fitness. RED RAIN READY. ; Yesterday morning Red Rain was sent along for an easy three furlongs .in :36, which was ample to show that he has all his speed. Brevity was sent half a. mile by Pete Coyne and he was not asked for speed when he covered, it, in :47. Mr. Bones, which carries the banner of John Hay Whitney, is one other that will be taken by many to whip both of these stars. The son of Royal Minstrel and Rinkey, while he did not attract much attention last year, has been one of the best three-year-old developments of the season and he has grown in favor with every appearance. Bien Joli, that races for Edward R. Bradley, is another of which great things are expected. He was a thoroughly good colt last year and "Dick" Thompson has given him a careful preparation. This morning his final for the Withers was a handy mile in 1:45. The son of Blue Larkspur, in other trials, has shown an abundance of speed and he appears to be perfectly trained. Another in the remarkable field is C. B. Shaffers Coldstream, which ran a dead heat with Red Rain in the Saratoga Special last year. The son of Bull Dog has been in training since early spring and he should be entirely ready for this mile. DELPHINIUMS QUALIFICATION. Delphinium only needs to be remembered for his defeat of Red Rain to merit attention. He is another son of Blue Larkspur and while his outing since that score over the son of Pennant and Dustemall was hot up to expectations, it was not his true form. Memory Book is to carry the Greentree Stable silks and his final preparatory task was a handy half mile in :48. Then there is A. G. Vanderbilts Postage Due, which ran a good race back, of Mr. Bones as his final. It is natural to expect that race will have done him some good and "Bud" Stotler sent him a half in :48 at Belmont to blow him out for the engagement. The other two of the remarkable company will be sent to the post by James Fitz-simmons. They are Ogden Phipps White Cockade and the Wheatley Stables Teufel. The best race run by Teufel this year was when he was winner over his stablemate, Granville, in the Wood Memorial. White Cockade for a considerable time has been working exceedingly well but it must be admitted he did not perform so well under silks. These are the colts that will strive for the big event of a remarkable week-end program, and with a truly run race, as is .to be expected, it will take a rarely good colt to be the winner. It is an important step toward the Belmont Stakes and that gives it a big added importance. The Withers gives an afternoon of racing of great importance, but there are other features of the seven race card calculated to make it one of the best days of the Belmont Park meeting.
