Chesapeake Stakes at Havre De Grace Today: First of Big Eastern Three-Year-Old Fixtures Attracts Field of Nine, Daily Racing Form, 1937-04-24

article


view raw text

CHESAPEAKE STAKES AT HAVRE DE GRACE TODAY First of Big Eastern Three-Year-Old Fixtures Attracts Field of Nine War Admiral, Fairy Hill, Matey, Court Scandal and Other Derby and Preakness Candidates Among the Named Contestants HAVRE DE GRACE, Md., April 23. The Chesapeake Stakes, Marylands foremost index to Derby and Preakness candidates, will be contested for the eighteenth time at Havre de Grace tomorrow. The 0,000 added eastern fixture has attracted one of the best fields that have met in the running for some time. This is due primarily to the excellent crop of three-year-olds this year, and the Chesapeake has drawn its fair share of likely eligibles. Among the nine which have been named overnight to contest the mile and a sixteenth race are several which are held in high regard for the larger prizes to follow. Six colts and three geldings comprise the top notch field. The absence of a filly is not remarkable, as from the forty-seven nominees for the stake, Elmer Dale Shaffers Log was the only one of her sex named. Eight different interests are represented, and it is the lone entry that will likely carry the bulk of public support The coupling Is War Admiral and Over the Top, which will represent the Glen Riddle Farm. EARNS SUPPORT. War Admiral, the colt, by Man o War and Brush Up, earned stanch support when, in his first appearance of the season he toyed with a field of sprinters in an allowance race over this track to canter home two and a half easy lengths before his nearest rival in the excellent time of 1:11. In that race he carried 120 pounds and finished in a manner to suggest that he would be able to carry his speed over the increased distance of the Chesapeake in which his weight will be 119 pounds. His stablemate, Over the Top, drove to an impressive victory in his first and only trip to the post this season. In that mile and seventy yards effort he turned back among others Tedious, Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilts Chesapeake hope, and Bomar Stables representative Siam. In preparation for his engagement tomorrow, War Admiral was given an easy gallop of one mile and a quarter in muddy going Wednesday. The colt was timed in 2:16 with the mile in 1:46. Since his winning race Over the Top went an easy mile in 1:45. War Admiral has been named for both the Derby and Preakness while Over the Top was nominated for the Maryland classic only. FAIRY HILL RESTED. Strong support in the wagering is certain to be given to Foxcatcher Farms Fairy Hill. The winner of the Santa Anita Derby has not been seen under silks since that race but has been rested up and should come up to his engagement in peak condition. His trials have been convincing. Last Monday the son of Messenger and Star Fairy attracted the attention of the split second experts when he whirled a mile in 1:42. That his speed was not indulged was evidenced when he went five furlongs this morning in 1:01 Continued on twenty-seventh page. CHESAPEAKE STAKES AT HAVRE DE GRACE TODAY Continued from first page. over a dull track. His prowess in races proves Fairy Hill need only give an honest effort tomorrow to make his presence felt. Fairy Hill Is entered in both the Derby and Freakness. Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt will be represented in the Chesapeake by his Teddy colt Tedious. The performance of Tedious in his one outing here can be somewhat discounted. While he finished second to Over the Top in their meeting, there are those who are of the opinion that he was the best horse in that race and that it was carelessness on the part of his rider which cost him major honors. If that be so and he shows the improvement that must be expected as a result of that race he may make his presence felt. Walter M. Jeffords Matey, will be given a chance to atone for his race over the track last Wednesday in which he trailed his three opponents and displayed nothing of his known ability. That race was obviously only a mild conditioner for more Important engagements to follow but it would be something of a startling reversal if the son of Man o- War and Tavy improved so suddenly as to become a menace in the Chesapeake where he will meet sterner opposition than led him home on Wednesday. NEEDED RACE. Townsend B. Martins Court Scandal, winner of the Flamingo Stakes at Hialeah Park made his first Maryland appearance in the same race as Matey and succeeded in finishing before the last named. The Minstrel obviously needed gray son of Royal that race and finished in a manner that suggested that it would improve him for tomorrows engagement. .... Bomar Stables Siam, which met defeat in the wake of Over the Top and Tedious, came back from that race to turn in a smashing slx-furlong victory on Tuesday. He came from behind the pace in that race and left the impression that the distance of the Chesapeake would be to his liking Sun Phantom, i-hlch will represent Mrs. Charles S. Bromley, was a good second to Merry Maker on Wednesday, finishing before Court Scandal and Matey, but it is general thought that he is overmatched. The Shandon Farms Quincy, the only other entry, is another that appears to be meeting opposition that exceeds his ability. The time record for the Chesapeake is also the track record for the mile and a sixteenth. Cavalcade established the mark when he covered the distance in 1:43 in 1934. While the Chesapeake Is looked upon as an index to the relative quality of Demy and Prcakncss eligibles no winner of the Chesapeake has ever won the Preakness, while two have gone on to win the Derby. These were Whiskery and Cavalcade. The track Is fast drying out, the weather clear rnd there is every likelihood that the race will be run over a fast strip. The increased attendance that has been manifest In Maryland this spring is certain to continue, and the management is making preparations to handle a crowd of record proportions.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1930s/drf1937042401/drf1937042401_1_3
Local Identifier: drf1937042401_1_3
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800