view raw text
QUIET DAY FOR DERBY HOPESi Stagehand and The Chief Limber Up at Churchill Downs. Louisville "Horsemen Surprised Over Downfall of MenowDiscuss Bull Leas Fine Performance. LOUISVILLE, Ky,, April 22. Except for blowouts by "the Derby favorite, Stagehand and his funding mate. The Chief, both of which will be set down for long exacting trials tomorrow morning, activity among the candidates for the 0,000 race on May 7 were more or less at a standstill at Churchill Downs today. Earl Sande, trainer of these Ohio candidates, owned by Maxwell Howard, had them out early for , an easy spin over three furlongs together. Although they were strongly restrained, they ran the distance in :37 seconds. Both colts exhibited eagerness to run faster and while not permitted to do so, will have full opportunity tomorrow when they will undergo the hardest work attempted since arriving from California. TAKE LONG GALLOPS. Several other of the candidates appeared on the fast track, but their morning- exercise was confined to long gallops. In this group were Lawrin, Co-Sport, .Gangplank, and several other less prominent eligibles. Tiger, which injured himself in a work-out Wednesday morning, still was disabled and under constant treatment for a bruised foot. While there was an absence of brisk training, Derby interest remained unchecked and the local colony of horsemen gave much time to discussions of the "fine performance of Bull Lea, at Keeneland Thursday. At the same time many of them expressed surprise over the downfall of Menow, yet " hone of them was ready to criticise the Belmont Futurity winner. It seems that all believe that Menow, because of the slow start he obtained in the Keeneland race, is entitled to another chance to qualify and final judgment will be withheld until af ter.he performs in the Blue Grass Stakes next Thursday. . PROBLEM HORSE. Another problem horse among the Derby luminaries is Lawrin, winner of the Flar mingo Stakes for Herbert M. Woolf, which like Mountain Ridge, may be in. nqed of racing to thoroughly condition- him for his major engagement two weeks from Saturday. Dubious of his ability to prepare Lawrin without starting him at least twice before the Derby, trainer B. A. Jones considers either taking the Woolf horse to Keeneland for a race next week or giving him two competitive opportunities here at the Downs. If he does not start at Keeneland, Lawrin may be under colors for a three-quarters race here on opening day, April 30, and again three days later for the mile Derby Trial Stakes. In both of the Downs races his company probably would include several other ranking candidates for the .0,000 Special. Except for his unwillingness to more fully extend himself in morning workouts, Lawrin has measured up to expectations arid is one of the popular choices among Derby horses already at the scene. He is a fine individual, in excellent physical condition, and" may be in better form than his private; trials have suggested. Nevertheless, his trainer is satisfied that more work must be asked of him to have him in top -condition for the Derby. . , Vi.
