view raw text
Here and There on the Turf American Derby May Decide Filly Title. Dawn Play, Mars Shield Leading Hopes. Aqueduct Offers Three Stakes. Carter is Prelude to Brooklyn Handicap. ------ -4 Eagle Pass, Over The Top and Dellor, three of the horses which figured prominently in the Latonia Derby running, will be among those present on Saturday in the American Derby, but the feature of Washington Parks meeting will create considerably greater interest if Dawn Play and Mars Shield, the outstanding three-year-old fillies of East and West, are among the starters, which now appears a strong probability. Mars Shield, winner of the Texas Derby and Kentucky Oaks, and Case Ace, victorious in the Illinois Derby, are the outstanding American Derby hopefuls of the Milky Way Farm stable, now that Reaping Reward is on the sidelines, but in a recent workout in which the two went together over the mile and one furlong distance, the filly finished two lengths ahead of the colt. The principal opponent of Mars Shield in the Texas Derby, which she defeated in clean-cut fashion, was Heelfly, a contender in both the Kentucky and Latonia Derbys, as well as winner of the Latonia Inaugural Handicap. A meeting between Dawn Play and Mars Shield in the American Derby should have the effect of determining the three-year-old filly championship, without the pair having to await the Alabama Stakes division. Dawn Play should command powerful eastern backing in the Homewood attraction if Max Hirsch decides to send the King Ranch miss west as is generally expected. The large and well-made daughter of Clock Tower and Gun Play, by Man o.War, accounted for her last two starts, the Acorn Stakes and Coaching Club American Oaks. In the latter event she took up her weight of 121 pounds, giving considerable allowances all around, and literally toyed with her opposition while covering the mile and three furlongs in very creditable time. She has done all her racing this season against her own sex, but it was not until she went over the greater distance of the Coaching Club Oaks that the Texas-owned filly really felt at home. Mars Shield, a daughter of Diavolo and Escutcheon, both of which made reputations as distance runners on the Metropolitan circuit, also fancies a route, as she came from behind in both the Texas Derby and Kentucky Oaks, which are over the mile and one furlong route. Early speed in the American Derby should be as much to her liking as it will be to Dawn Play. That these smart fillies may have the finish battle between them in the American Derby is a distinct possibility, although it must be remembered that Eagle Pass and Over The Top both Continued on fifteenth page. V ll HERE AND THERE ON THE TURF Continued from second page. were bearing down heavily in the latter stages of the Latonia Derby with the Val-dina Farms colt finishing fastest of alL Over The Top, former stablemate of War Admiral but now owned by Mrs. William H. Furst, ran into trouble and lost more ground than did Eagle Pass in the Latonia event. Dellor, which would be favored by mud, attempted to steal by Flying Scot on the inside in the Latonia Derby, but was blocked. The early speed in the American Derby probably will be forthcoming from Case Ace. , Aqueduct will be doing itself proud on Saturday in offering a triple stake program, an honor usually monopolized by Belmont Park and Saratoga. Topping the program will be the Dwyer Stakes, with 0,000 added, but important offerings likewise are the Carter Handicap, endowed with ,500, and the Astoria Stakes with 2,500. The Dwyer, over the mile and one furlong course, will embrace much the same field that went post-ward in the Shevlin, but with Merry Maker added. The Carter, a dash of seven furlongs, that more frequently has been run on the Fourth of July in the past is for older horses and its field may include several of the outstanding candidates for the Brooklyn to be run on the following Saturday. Aqueduct gives Independence Day over to Empire City this season, causing a rearrangement of its stakes program. Two-year-old fillies will be featured in the Astoria, a dash of five furlongs. A good-sized field may be expected in the Carter even though most of the top weights may decline the issue as its winner will be compelled to shoulder a penalty of three pounds in the Brooklyn. This may be expected to bar Rosemont, which has been assigned 130 pounds, also Seabiscuit, whose Carter allotment is 125, pounds. John B. Campbell is asking Snark, Aneroid and Top Row each to take up 123 pounds in. the Carter and the first named of these is the most likely of the trio to perform, although the Brooklyn weights may have much to do with how the various trainers of eiigibles to the two events make up their minds. More likely to accept their Carter imposts are Bill Farnsworth with 117 pounds, High Fleet 116, White Cockade 112, Cycle 112, Jean Bart 110, Billionaire 103, Chicolorado 103, and Grand Play 102. All of these horses are in" readiness for their best efforts over the distance and the purse of ,500 is attractive enough. The Astoria has an excellent chance to bring together Catalysis and Balking, the respective two-year-old filly champions of Miami and Santa Anita racing during the winter. Both are on edge, as are Inhale, Lourdes, Creole Maid, Themesong and Early Evening, other probable Astoria contestants.
