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Here and There on the Turf Blue Grass Derby Hand Strong Bull Leas Effort Sparkles Menow Possibly Trifle Short Is Speed Horse of Derby Field ....... . 4 The Blue Grass, from whence comes the majority of thoroughbreds which provide the racing in this country, has spoken its piece regarding its representation in the forthcoming Kentucky Derby. That limestone-bedded and very horse-minded section of Kentucky is sending in Bull Lea and Menow, two powerful horses after the nations most popular race. Such was amply demonstrated in Thursdays renewal of the Blue Grass Stakes, in which the two colts finished a neck apart after running the mile and one furlong in 1:49, which is very creditable time, not only over the Keene-larid course, but over any track in the country. Menow set a fast, steady pace and Bull Lea followed it closely to come from behind and win. Their battle carried them far ahead of Redbreast and Dah He and therefore practically eliminated them as Derby entries, although the Greentree Stable colt may have another chance Tuesday in the Derby Trial Stakes. Neither Bull Lea nor Menow is expected to run again before the Derby, but both will complete their training at Churchill Downs, the Calumet colt already having arrived there, while Hal Price Headleys prospect reaches there tomorrow. Both colts likely will have extended workouts Tuesday. They have qualified, just as the Derby candidates running in the Wood Memorial Stakes this afternoon must do, or those contesting the Derby Trial Stakes. Their connections are satisfied and the public probably realizes that Bull Lea and Menow have proved themselves no weak candidates, although doubt still may exist as to the latter colts fondness for racing oyer a distance of ground. However, Headley, whose knowledge of horses is most extensive, saw in Menows Blue Grass effort a potential stayer. Bull Lea has been trained right along with the Derby in mind, Frank Kearns having given him numerous long workouts. The son of Bull Dog and Rose Leaves therefore was thoroughly fit for his Blue Grass engagement, which he had to be to run the nine furlongs in 1:49 and work out an additional furlong to cover the Derby distance in 2:03, time which has been exceeded only three times in the long history of the Churchill Downs classic. Menow has not been especially prepared for distance racing, because his connections were-doubt-ful that he could go a route and wished to race him up to it. After the colt had won a six furlongs race at Keeneland two weeks ago, he did not do quite enough in the opinion of his owner in the training line and lack of condition prevented him from making a better showing in the mile and one-sixteenth race, in which Bull Lea was an easy winner. Following that engagement, the Belmont Futurity winner came back with a very impressive workout at a mile and a furlong, breezing in 1:55, even though he went the final furlong in :12. That trial impressed Headley greatly, but the Keeneland president came to the conclusion after the Blue Grass running that his star colt may have been a trifle short. Alfred Robertson had Menow under strong restraint for a mile, after which he hand-rode for a furlong before going to the whip. Menow hung on tenaciously until inside in the sixteenth post, where he hung. Considering the manner in which he came out of the race, Headley believes lack of condition may have brought about the colts defeat, although he has no lack of respect for Bull Lea and has a notion that the Calumet colt will be the one to beat May 7. Considering the pace he set in the Blue Grass, Menow may be expected to prove the speed horse in the Derby field and that means he has an extraordinary chance of victory. War Admiral, Clyde Van Dusen and Bubbling Over are some of the Derby winners which went to the front right after the start and galloped their opposition into defeat and Menow possibly could do the same. Bull Lea fortunately has shown that he has sufficient speed to run close up and the same may be expected of Lawrin, Fighting Fox and Nedayr. The better known plodders in the probable field are Stagehand and Dauber, but they either will have to be very powerful in their challenges or be able to do their running without suffering any mishaps to cope with the speed which is promised for this years Derby .renewal and by horses which apparently have the heart and ability to stick it out.
