view raw text
I Here and There on the Turf Winter Racing Expands j Flamingo Popular Five Topnotchers I Inscoelda s Greatness j II - Winter racings vast expansion is manifested once more in the nominations to the Flamingo Stakes and the Santa Anita Derby, the outstanding events for three-year-olds staged during the off season. A greater number of the more promising three-year-bids have been named for the two races to j be decided during February than in the previous history of the events, a sure sign of the growth in importance of the winter sport. No weakness in this division was noted last winter when Lawrin came away from Hialeah Park with a Flamingo victory to his credit to capture the Kentucky Derby and Hollywood Parks Invitational race and stagehand added the Narragansett Special and other stakes to the triumphs attained 1 in the handicap and Derby at Santa Anita Park. Horses they beat during the winter also sparkled during the major season as Pasteurized won the Belmont Stakes and Dauber the Preakness, as well as being the runner-up in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont. The Flamingo has attracted eighty-one nominations, as against 107 for the Santa Anita Derby and the comparison is very good considering that the Miami Jockey Club adds 0,000 to its affair, once known as the Florida Derby and the Los Angeles i Turf Club endows its three-year-old special with 0,000. Both are at a mile and one furlong. Probably the most likely of the Flamingo eligibles at this time are Benefactor, T. M. Dorsett, Third Degree, Voli-tant and the filly Inscoelda, which began her racing career at Hialeah last winter. All but T. M. Dorsett are on the grounds, the latter being at the Fair Grounds with his stable-mates, New Orleans being the home of his owner, Joe W. Brown. If he should train satisfactorily, however, the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes winner may be expected over for the Flamingo, after which he could be returned to his home quarters for the Louisiana Derby, which with 2,000 added, is well worth taking in itself. Benefactor is not exactly a surprise nominee for the Flamingo, but the writer had entertained a doubt he would be entered in the race. However, he not only has been named, but present intentions are to get him ready for it, although William Hurley, patient and capable trainer for E. R. Bradley, will hardly take any chances that may prove a desultory influence in the colts spring and summer campaign. Benefactor has been plagued with several minor ailments, not all of which have been entirely overcome. Third Degree, another that gained his first competitive experience at Hialeah Park, likewise must overcome an ailment that was a factor in his juvenile campaigning and may have prevented him from entering the ranks of stakes winners. Trainer John Gaver is giving the Greentree Stable colt all the chance he can to overcome a spread foot and if the son of Questionnaire rounds to nicely, he will be ready for the Flamingo. Inscoelda and Volitant went south in the finest of fettle after their clash in the Wal-den Handicap, in which the Woolford Farm filly gained a narrow decision over the Saratoga Stables capable colt. His connections undoubtedly are hoping for revenge. The daughter of Insco and Griselda is generally acclaimed the 1938 juvenile filly champion, Continued on nineteenth page.J j HERE AND THERE ON THE TURF Continued from second page. as she well might be, considering her Arlington Lassie Stakes victory and her smashing performance in the Selima, in which she was second to Big Hurry, in addition to her Wal-den success over .such, a good colt as Voli-tant. The son of Display had finished at the heels of El Chico in the Junior Champion Stakes, after having won the Saratoga Sales Stakes, later accounting for the Spalding Lowe Jenkins Handicap. In the Walden lie shortened stride in the stretch after having opened up a long lead entering the final quarter and Inscoelda closed stoutly to run him down in the final few strides. Even without its "Big Five," the Flamingo should muster a good field, because many of the other eligibles are liable for development, as was the case with Lawrin, Stagehand, Dauber and Pasteurized. Just what these will be remains to be seen, but those which already have shown flashes of ability include the colts Balmy Spring, Easy Mon, Doubt Not, Felsun, Qolden Clown, Forty Eight, Hash, Roll and Toss, Mister Major, Hy Camp, Joy Boy, Heather Time and Technician and the fillies Grey Nurse, Unerring, Donita M. and American Daisy. To give the three-year-olds the proper chance for development, the Miami Jockey Club also includes on its stakes roster the Hialeah, at six furlongs, and the Bahama Handicap, at seven fur-longsp in addition to which will be the usual overnight events at various distances up to the mile and one furlong route of the Flamingo. Floridas visitors this winter may well look forward to some keen competition in this division.
