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LATE DERBY PROSPECTS Fighting Fox Formidable Foe for Maxwell Howards Stagehand. Victory in Initial Start of Year Makes Belair Colt Probable Wood Memorial Favorite. LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 26 Fighting Fox, a brother of one of the most magnifi- cent Derby winners and closely related to an- other, now looms a more definite threat to the winter racing sensation, Stagehand, for the honor of post favoritism in the sixty- fourth Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs here a week from Saturday. Victorious and impressive in his first public appearance of the season at Jamaica last Saturday, Fight- ing Fox now is the choice for the Wood Memorial Stakes at the same track this Saturday and should he take that old fixture in a fashion befitting a leading candidate, he may displace Stagehand as the publics horse in the 0,000 race here a week later. While Fighting Fox, William Woodwards full brother to Gallant Fox, the 1930 Derby winner and sire of Omaha, which captured the old fixture in 1935, was bolstering his popularity, Bourbon King, which may yet come to the rescue of his fading stable companion Menow, and Nedayr, another eastern stalwart, showed enough over the week-end to warrant their consideration as Derby candidates of merit. Bourbon King, a western hope owned by H. P. Headley, exhibited surprising form in winning the Chesapeake Stakes at Havre de Grace, while Nedayr, owned by Willis Sharpe Kilmer, and also making his seasonal debut, gave a steady effort in the Stuyvesant Handicap at Jamaica. TWO DISAPPOINTMENTS. The Derby stock of two other candidates, meanwhile, took a dip last Saturday, that of Mrs. Ethel V. Mars Mountain Ridge, and Myron Selznicks Cant Wait, both of which were unplaced, respectively, at Keeneland and Jamaica. While these events somewhat revised the Derby picture, Stagehand, owned by Maxwell Howard, and his stablemate, The Chief, as well as other probable starters as Herr bert M. Woolfs Lawrin, Warren Wrights Bull Lea, Mrs. Payne Whitneys Redbreast, William duPont Jr.s Dauber and Bert Friends Co-Sport, did nothing to shake the confidence of their admirers and connections. Also still ranked as possibilities for the mile and a quarter classic are J. C. Metz Gov. Chandler, named for Kentuckys chief executive; James C. Stones Stands Alone, B. F. Whitakers Mythical King, Charles T. Fishers Kings Heir, and Dah He and Gangplank, stablemates, respectively, of Bourbon King and Menow, and Greentree Stables Redbreast. AWAIT SATURDAYS RACE. Because of his commanding position, next Saturdays Wood Stakes performance of Fighting Fox will carry much importance. His private trials also will come under close scrutiny and if all goes well eastern support, which should develop for him, may install the son of Sir Gallahad III. and Marguerite, the popular choice at Churchill Downs one week from Saturday. Although supporters , of Stagehand are satisfied with their idol, many experts merely are awaiting an adequate line on Fighting Fox before reaching definite conclusions. Therefore, if the Belair. horse come up to the Derby unbeaten this Continued on fifteenth page. i i I 1 1 i -1 ; i , . . ! i : ; . , ; LATE DERBY PROSPECTS Continued from first page. season, he will be the choice of many who still are undecided. Whether Stagehand and The Chief will race before the Derby has not been announced, but their trainer, Earl Sande, is not sending The Chief to Keeneland for the Blue Grass Stakes Thursday, though he may start both of them in the Derby Trial Stakes here next Tuesday. As a formidable field is in prospect for the Derby Trial, a victory for Stagehand in this test would make it very difficult for Fighting Fox to wrest the honor post of Derby favoritism from the Ohio course. BULL LEA AND MENOW. Considerable importance attaches to the Blue Grass Stakes, for it is destined to engage Bull Lea, recent conqueror of Menow, Redbreast, Kings Heir, and, besides Menow, the Belmont Futurity winners barn mate Dah He. It is believed that the Headley establishment will start either Menow or Dah He, depending upon their Blue Grass Stakes showings, and Bourbon King in the coveted Churchill Downs prize. ! Along with the Howard three-year-olds, the . Derby Trial also may bring out Lawrin, Co-Sport, Mountain Ridge, Stands Alone, Gov. Chandler and Gangplank. With the running , of the Trial, all preliminary racing and qualifying opportunities for the eligibles will be over. Eastern candidates will be on the scene and except for light training there will j be nothing for the hopefuls to do but to mark time in anticipation of the call to the Derby post. Almost regardless of what may happen during the interim, the Derby stands out as one of the most open races in its modern history. Contributing to a good contest, devoid of unavidable crowding when a cumbersome field meets, as frequently happens, is the probability of a field of about twelve and critical racing fans are preparing themselves for a mile and a quarter battle re-! plete with thrills. I
