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Here and There on the Turf Sun Egret Is Mastered Masked General Impresses Wheatley Horses Have Speed Weight Didnt Bother Seabis-cuit ----------,------.---...-- Just as he had established himself as a leading candidate for the Kentucky Derby, Sun Egret had to perform in disappointing fashion in the Harford Handicap, and he lost many of his admirers. Not only did his Derby following weaken, but those who regarded the speedy son of Sun Briar and Polly Egret as an almost sure winner of the Chesapeake Stakes this coming Saturday, are not so sanguine about his chances in that mile and one-sixteenth event for a purse of 5,000. Apparently Sun Egret has had a bit too much, having campaigned steadily throughout the winter and this spring upon his return to Maryland. In the Harford he was called upon to shoulder three-year-old scale weight of 116 pounds and this proved too much for him, as he was engaged with the best group of sprinters he has yet had to face. After going along close to the pace for five furlongs, the A. C. Comp-tbn colt was unable to respond to urging and wound up in sixth place, although not beaten more than two lengths. If Sun Egret has gone off, Guy Bedwell will have to utilize all his skill to bring him back for the Chesapeake and Derby. Masked General, which won the Harford in his first start of the season, is the same son of Pompey and Masked Ball which had "War Admiral soundly beaten in the Pimlico Special until he rah to the outside fence turning into the stretch. That was a habit of the Brandywine Stable colt, but trainer "William F. Mulholland apparently has corrected him to some extent, as Masked General ran straight in the Saturday race, even though swinging to the outside when making his run turning into the stretch. The, race will aid Masked General greatly in his preparation for the Philadelphia Handicap, and he probably will be more at home over the distance of the latter race than he was in the Harford. Jay Jays effort also calls for some commendation because he was well back in the early stages and then closed very smartly, just failing to overtake Masked General despite his load of 126 pounds. With a race in him, Howard Bruces good speedster should be ready for any and all engagements hereafter. Most refreshing is the manner in which the opening of the Metropolitan season was greeted by the patrons, a record crowd gathering at Jamaica to enjoy the fine program arranged by- John B. Campbell. The Jockey Clubs handicapper had the right notion as to the best horse nominated for the Paumonok, the traditional inaugural feature, assigning Snark the scale impost of 132 pounds. Despite this load the five-year-old son of Boojum and Helvetia, by Hourless, which winter before last set the worlds record for six and one-half furlongs now held by Menow, was able to run the three-quarters in 1:11, which was sufficient to get him to the wire three lengths before Rollin Home, while other fast horses were in the van. Snark is much more than a sprinter and he undoubtedly will use his performance in the Paumonok as a stepping stone for an event like the Dixie or Metropolitan Handicap. Attention should be given the race of Stormscud, mate of Snark in the Wheatley Stable. The son of Hard Tack and Blustery, by Sun Briar, which was hailed as the equal of Fighting Fox before either colt got to the post last summer, was not nominated for the Kentucky Derby, but that may not stop him from developing into one of the outstanding members of his division before the season has advanced very far. In his first outing of the year, Stormscud ran the six furlongs in 1:11, setting the pace all the way, and withstanding a hard drive with Thanksgiving. That he has not been trained for such a difficult engagement as the Derby may be in Stormscuds favor, and he will be better for it when the time comes to compete in the rich events for which he is eligible. He is in the Wood Memorial and then the Preakness. Seabiscuit finally was permitted to carry as much as 133 pounds and he demonstrated to all that he could handle the assignment, running the mile and a furlong at Bay Meadows in 1:49 to establish a new track record. His victory came in the Bay Meadows Handicap and was achieved so easily that owner Charles S. Howard undoubtedly has gained further confidence that the son of Hard Tack and Swing On, by Whisk Broom II., will defeat War Admiral in their match race on May 30. Seabiscuit soon will entrain for Pimlico where he probably will be a starter in the Dixie Handicap, for which Charles J. McLennan assigned him 130 pounds. The handicap star did riot meet with very serious opposition in the Bay Meadows, but the competition was suf- ficient to give him the urge to run, and he went to the front when given his head to have a lot left at the end, even though his time established a new record.
