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THREE-YEAR-OLD PROSPECTS OF 1939 JOHNSTOWN By NOREIS KOYDEN l One of the fastest two-year-olds of last season, was Johnstown, a private purchase . by William Woodward from Arthur B. Hancock, although from a mare which the chair- , man of The Jockey Club had bred himself. Why the New York sportsman purchased the colt the writer doesnt pretend to know, but although he has become famous as a breeder of distance champions, Woodward obtained in Johnstown a precocious colt of much speed. By what he had shown as a juvenile, Johnstown left too little to suggest he would . develop into ah outstanding stayer, but he is not to be considered lightly as a. three-year-old prospect, especially as he is in the hands of the skilled James Fitzsimmons, whose record for saddling winners of events like the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont Stakes, Lawrence Realization, Saratoga and Belmont Cups during the past dozen years speaks for itself. But the Aqueduct horseman has developed most of his champions from colts, the development of which was too slow for them to be considered precocious as Johnstown undoubtedly was. In the son of Jamestown and La France, by Sir Gallahad in., however, Fitzsimmons is handling a colt of natural speed and sometimes a trainer can do wonders with a horse possessing that ability. Johnstowns breeding is full of staying blood, but his sire, Jamestown, was a miler at best and his paternal grandsire, St; James, also was unable to demonstrate stamina. Johnstown, however, is a half-brother to Jacola, whose claim to the three-year-old filly championship last season could be argued only by Handcuff, and he is out of the immediate family of Omaha, Flambino and others, the ability of which to cover a distance of ground in high-class company was pronounced. In a dozen starts last season Johnstown was victorious on seven occasions, his triumphs including the Babylon Handicap. Richard Johnston Stakes, Remsen Handicap and Breeders Futurity, all at six furlongs. He was third in both the Hopeful and Junior Champion Stakes at six and one-half furlongs, and fourth in the Flash and Belmont Futurity. Naturally he had to run against the best juveniles in the country in these events. He began his campaign in April, being fourth in his debut but winning the next time out a few days later. He did not run again until the Flash, late in July at Saratoga, which was followed by a victory in an overnight race over Pontius, Roll and Toss and Invader, all likely youngsters, towards the end of the meeting as a conditioning effort for the Hopeful. In the latter classic, he raced smartly to be beaten only three lengths by El Chico as Ariel Toy just beat him out for the place. Equipped with blinkers in his next start, Johnstown won the Babylon off by himself and then in the Junior Champion had El Chico headed at the furlong pole only to weaken and lose to the champion by a length as Volitant nosed him out for place honors. After easily capturing an overnight contest at Belmont Park, the Belair Stud colorbearer went smoothly all the way in the Belmont Futurity to be fourth, three lenghs back of Porters Mite as Eight Thirty and Third Degree were second and third. His triumph in the Richard Johnson was by a neck only over Impound as he weakened near the end, but he made a runaway of the Remsen under top weight of 126 pounds, defeating Lovely Knight, Beau James and Book Plate. In the Breeders Futurity, he came from behind the early pace to take command in the final sixteenth, but Allegro would have beaten him in another stride. , , , , fDark Ronald 1 Bay Ronald r Ambassador IV. Darkie Ej i-Excellenza j Haut Brion l Gulbeyaz fj LBobohnkH.. fWillonyx.. William UI. m Tribonyx j l-Chelandry j Goldfinch . I Illuminata C g " . "Hastings. Spendthrift . .2 f Fair Play..V.. ...... ;..;...- Cinderella J - " iFairyGold 1 Bend Or , . Dame Masham 3- L f Rock Sand I Sainfoin g S LToggery...... A Roquebrune O!- , LTeasOver Hanover 2 -, , c Tea Rose g 2 K JAjax C Flying Fox "Z fTeddy...... .............. 1 - , Amic- O a " LRondeau ...P:.. Bay Ronald - Dorcmi ; r x "; ; V u - Spearmint . . . .Vr. .......... I Carbine I .H Plucky Liege......;-....... - ; Maid of the Mint C 10 .1 Concertina.... . St. Simon 1 Comic Song , - . , fRabelais ........ St. Simon fDurbarll... Satirical "S I -Armenia. Meddler i E Urania r 0i; - K fAjax Flying Fox r LLa Flambee. ........ .......S Amie LMedeah Masque Lygie
