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DERBY FAVORITE IN WORKOUT The Chief Accompanies Stagehand in Three -Quarter Trial. Canter Extra Eighth Mile Sceneshifter Pulls Up Lame After Galloping Three-Quarters of a Mile. LOUISVILLE; Ky., April 16 Having formally inaugurated their local preparation yesterday, Maxwell Howards Stagehand and The Chief entered the more serious phases of their training for the Kentucky Derby in splendid trials over a fast track at Churchill Downs this morning. The. Derby favorite and his running mate worked six furlongs in company under he direction of trainer Earl Sande, who expressed himself well pleased with the present condition of his two crack three-year-olds. The trials were the first serious moves the horses have been called upon to accomplish since their arrival from Santa Anita, last Monday. Stagehand and The Chief were sent six furlongs, the former being timed in 1:14 and the latter in 1:14, and they galloped out an additional eighth. For the full seven-eighths they were clocked in 1:28. Starting at the three-quarters post, Stagehand broke about two lengths behind his stable companion, but they were on even terms as they reached the line of finish and then continued on abreast of each other the extra furlong, during which they were being eased up by their riders. Neither of the horses was extended at any stage of the impressive trials. They negotiated the first quarter in :24 and, always under stout restraint, passed the half mile marker in :50. APPEAR IN FINE FETTLE. The Howard horses cooled out nicely after their performances and, barring mishap, promise to come up to the 0,000 special on May 7 in tip-top condition. Sande reiterated today that if The Chief continues to train well he will be sent to Lexington to take part in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. Stagehand is not eligible for that stake. While Stagehand and The Chief were dominating the spotlight at the Downs this morning, other important Derby candidates here were taking it easy. The Milky Way Farms Mountain Ridge indulged in a gallop around the track, while Milky Ways Tiger, Herbert M. Woolfs Lawrin and Bert Friends Co-Sport were confined to long walks around their barn. The Greentree Stables Gangplank, one of the lesser lights among the Derby eligibles quartered here, traveled an easy seven furlongs in 1:31 and galloped out a mile in 1:46. His fractional time was :25 for the first quartei, :51 for the half mile and 1:18 for three-quarters. Sceneshifter, another Howard horse, which Sande had hopes of starting in the Clark Handicap here on opening day, April 30, pulled up quite lame after working three-quarters in 1:15 this morning.
