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THREE-YEAR-OLD PROSPECTS OF 1937 POMPOON, bay colt, by Pompey Oonagh; property of J. H. Louch-heim I of Philadelphia. He was the acknowledged champion two-year-old of 1936 and the future book favorite for the Kentucky Derby. He is in training at Columbia, S. C, and is reported in I fine bodily health. The Paumonok Handicap has been selected for . his 1937 debut j By NORRIS HOYDEN ....................... t Will he go the distance? That is the principal question being asked about Pompoon, acknowledged two-year-old champion of last season, and opening favorite in the Kentucky Derby futures. Jerome H. Louchheim and Cyrus Field Clarke, respectively, owner and trainer of the bay son of Pompey and Oonagh, by Friar Rock, are confident he can and will run the distance. Some breeding experts and numerous veteran horsemen have their doubts. Pompoon has raced eight times, winning six and running second twice. Excuses can be found for both of his defeats. His triumphs included the Belmont Futurity, no winner of which ever has scored in the Kentucky Derby, but that is a tradition holding very little bearing on Pompoons prospects as a three-year-old. The racing career of Pompoon began in a maiden event at Pimlico, April 29, in which he ran four and one-half furlongs in :54, leading most of the way, to easily defeat a field of average class. He repeated this victory in an allowance affair at Belmont Park, stepping five furlongs straightaway in :59 to score by four lengths oyer Your Honor, with All Agog third. Running over the same course in one-fifth fasetr time, but coming from behind in the final three-sixteenths, Pompoon captured the National Stallion Stakes by a length and one-half over Fencing, with War Admiral, also unbeaten at the time, third, and Black Look fourth. Lacking engagements he did not run again until late in August at Saratoga. This appearance was in a lady owners handicap, he being leased to Mrs. Louchheim ; for the occasion. Assigned top weight of 130 pounds, Pompoon advanced on No Sir at the furlong post and then hung to be beaten a half length. Miss Mary Hirschs gelding was forced, however, to complete" the five and one-half furlongs in 1:05, fastest time of the meeting for the distance. It was stated afterwards that Pompoon wasnt quite up to such opposition as No Sir gave him. For his next effort, an overnight race of six furlongs at Aqueduct, Pompoon was ridden by Harry Richards in place of Maurice Peters, and he came from behind turning for home to draw out into a four-length lead at the end. His time was 1:12 and he defeated Dogaway, Talked About and Rockwood, all fast horses. Off this race he won the Junior Champion Stakes, at six and one-half furlongs, in the time of 1:18, coming from behind in the final furlong to triumph by a length over Flying Scot, with Tedious third and Rockwood fourth, giving all of them weight Pompoon was made the favorite for the Futurity, in which he was called upon to ! carry 127 pounds. In between horses in the early running, the son of Pompey was eased I back by Richards and swung-to the outside, whereupon he advanced steadily to take the lead inside the final quarter. In the last sixteenth he drew out quickly to enjoy a win-; ning advantage of four lengths over Privileged, with Flying Cross third, Sir Damion fourth and thirteen other good youngsters in their wake. In his final start of the season, the New England Futurity at Narragansett Park, Pompoon was ridden by "Sonny" Workman, as Richards was under suspension at the time. Workman was unable to hold him back and he went to the lead almost after a half , mile. Reaping Reward came to him with a rush entering the stretch to take a half length lead, which Pompoon reduced to a neck at the end. The Louchheim colt carried 122 pounds to 117 for Reaping Reward and the time for the mile and seventy yards was 1:41, three-fifths off the track record. Other in the field were nowhere. Pompoon is well advanced in his spring training at Columbia, after having wintered j in Maryland. He is nearly seventeen hands high and well developed through the shoulder and quarters, but is exceptionally leggy. The Louchheim colt has a fine stride, contrary to the type of his immediate sire line. His sire, Pompey, was not a stayer and has gotten only a few good horses that could go a distance, particularly Ladysman. Pompoons dam is by Friar Rock, which is helpful, but the maternal grandsire is Polymelian, which specialized in speed. Staying lines are found farther back. Pompoon will be a factor in three-year-old racing, but the writer doubts that he will prove the champion, even though he has speed, class and weight-carrying ability. A natural stayer with these qualities will prove his undoing. Amphion J tSpecuIum Suicide Sierra Springfield CO -i . Sanda fa. . f St. Frusquin J St. Simon in LSweet Briar J Isabel " .Presentation 0"on Dubia - r 2 fPoIymelu I Cyllene fCorcyra .;............- Maid Marian I LPearmain -.. . Persimmon o - Nencmoosha D f Gallinule I Isonomy t fc S LGalhce J Moorhen g S I.St. Cecilia St.Serl 2 J , Melody S S J" Sainfoin J Springfield g , -5 rRockSand......r......... V Sanda M b; " LRoquebrune J St. Simon t. J i St. Marguerite 1 "Bend Or 1 Doncaster jz LFairy Gold..... -i Rouge Rose L.Dame Masham Galliard - Pauline "Polymelus J Cyllene JIaM Marian -Polymelian ; c I LPasquita 5 Sundridge L J J Pasquil I fCharles O.Malley Desmond LAthlone J Goody Two Shoes LDodragh Hackler Lady Atheling
