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Here and There on the Turf Burning Star Back in Form Good Prospects for Philadelphia War Admiral Up Another Notch Clark Field Is Taking Shape . - - -4 Burning Star looked more like himself in winning the Riderwood Purse at Havre de Grace Tuesday and unquestionably deserves the strong support he will have Saturday to win the Philadelphia Handicap, closing day feature at the Harford course. The four-year-old son of Burning Blaze Owena. by The Porter, was making his first start since his disappointing performance in the "Widener Challenge Cup on March 5. Quite evidently the elder John J. Greely has the Shandon colt in vastly better condition than be. was in Florida. An ailment prevented Greely from preparing Burning Star for the Widener in exactly the fashion he wished, and the colt furthermore met with some bad luck in the race, but it was not his best effort and must be disregarded. The Shandon colorbearers record for last season speaks for itself, because at the end only War Admiral and Heelfly had it on him among the three-year-olds still campaigning. Apparently freshened up again after his Florida training, Burning Star came back in gradual fashion, with the result that he was fresh and good in his appearance Tuesday, in which he ran the mile and one-sixteenth over the Harford course in 1:45, which is a second and two-fifths off Cavalcades mark. Burning Star had plenty left as he ran past the entire field in the final three furlongs, and the race should put him just right for a tough battle Saturday over the same distance. He has been assigned 119 pounds for the Philadelphia and, while he is rated third among the candidates, Burning Star has an assignment which he seems well able to handle, considering the fitness displayed in his race Tuesday. The Philadelphia field likely will not be a very large one, but Aneroid, under 126 pounds, probably will be one of Burning Stars opponents, and the starting top weight. The impost of 134 pounds allotted War Admiral in the Philadelphia by Charles J. McLennan, is the largest yet given the unbeaten three-year-old of last season and is two pounds more than the same handi-capper gave the Glen Riddle champion for the Dixie Handicap. However, the Pimlico attraction is a furlong longer in distance than the Havre de Grace feature, which makes a difference. As long as War Admiral is going to sidestep those handicaps which have no limitations, it is of no importance how much weight he is assigned, although professional pride will cause the handicappers to grade the son of Man o War with the other horses the way he should be, according to their judgment. McLennan put War Admiral on top of Sea-biscuit I by two pounds in the Dixie so the match between them on Memorial Day will show whether this comparison can be continued. In the weights for the Clark Handicap, like the Philadelphia at a mile a sixteenth, Burning Star was considered best by William H. Shelley at the scale impost of 128 pounds, but he is remaining in Maryland. However, Main Man and Eagle Pass, second on the list at 124 pounds each, both are almost certain starters in the ,000 added event signalizing the opening of the Churchill Downs meeting Saturday. Main Man is fresh from his victories in the Phoenix and Ben Ali Handicaps at Keeneland, in which he displayed impressive form, while Eagle Pass demonstrated in a recent workout that he was ready for his best effort Opposing the four-year-olds likely will be Mucho Gusto, Dusty Dawn, Old Nassau, Broadway t and Galsun among others, but the good colt bred and developed by Jerome B. Respess likely will rule the favorite. Belmont Park evidently wishes to make the Seabiscuit-War Admiral match race just the sort of public attraction it should be, judging by the announcement that no change will be made in admission price other than the infield will be thrown open at a figure lower than the cost to enter the grandstand area. C. V. Whitney, who has taken active charge of the event, due to the illness of Joseph E. Widener, insisted on the regular prices, probably because he wishes the race to belong to the public, as it should be. The largest crowd which ever viewed a race in America should be at Belmont Park on May 30 and it could be with little difficulty. Belmont has a huge grandstand, a deep lawn and the largest infield in the country; also plenty of parking space and adequate train service to care for as many persons as wish to utilize it.
