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HEATHER BROOM FIRST Sande Saddles First Winner for John Hay Whitney. - Colt Candidate for Big Three-Year-Old Fixtures Public Supports Winner With Confidence. "NEW YORK, N. Y., April 17 Heather Broom, one of Jock Whitneys several candidates for the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, not to mention the lesser Wood Memorial, turned in a good public trial for these stakes at the Jamaica course today when he drove to victory in the Cedar Manor Purse, a condition event for three-year-olds. As he completed this trip in 1:44, the son of The Porter and Janet Blair was doing his best to be three-quarters of a length in advance of the winter campaigner, Oversight. The latter was the lesser-regarded member of the Wheatley Stable entry, which was completed by Devils Peak. Three lengths back of the runner-up, Chal-mac, another busy in Florida during the off season up North, had little trouble earning third money. The performance of Heather Broom got Earl Sande away to a good start with the Whitney establishment as this was the first horse he sent to the post for that young sportsman. -Plenty of support was evidenced for the well-bred colt, which opened at 6 to 5 and was backed down to even money at post time. As a threat in either of the two earlier May fixtures for horses of his age, he hardly looms as a serious threat at present, though the effort should do much to advance his condition. JAMES RIDES WELL. James made no mistakes with Heather Broom. He got his charge away swiftly from No. 1 post position and just drove him sufficiently in the first half mile to keep clear of early trouble. Going along the far side of the track he kept clear of the rail, and this enabled Longden to shoot Oversight through the opening and away to a clear advantage on the turn. Turning for home James called on the son of The Porter and he responded well to the urge of the whip, hand and heel to outgame the Cohort colt. Oversight did not have any apparent excuse and it is more than probable his performance surprised trainer "Sunny Jim" Fitzsimmons. He rushed into the lead after going half a mile and continued with good courage until challenged by the winner. It was his best effort since he left these parts-last fall. "Chalmac was a forward factor for seven furlongs, but was well beaten from the head of the stretch to the winning post. Devils Peak had early speed and was perfectly placed for five-eighths of a mile, tiring thereafter. OUT KETCHAM TO FORE. Our Ketcham, running to his excellent recent form at Tropical Park, drove to a length and a half triumph in the mile and a sixteenth Baisley Purse, a race where conditions enabled him to be in with 113 pounds. The favorable impost, plus racing condition and a capable rider, Johnny Longden, enabled him to trounce Strabo, a first-time Continued on fifteenth page. HEATHER BR00N FIRST Continued from first page. 1939 starter, which proved his principal rival. Two lengths back of the runner-up, Sandy Boot, finishing with his usual rush, was up to snatch third money from the tiring Sun Inplay. The winner was a well-played choice and the first of the day to register, opening at 2 to 1 and closing at 3 to 2. Longden had Our Ketcham away rapidly from his outer position in a field of six and drove him smartly with hand and heel, to be the nearest attendant of Sun. Inplay for the first six furlongs. He brought the Spanish Play Bunt colt around the leader turning for home, driving hard to gain a short lead at the furlong ground and increasing it thereafter. John Partridges representative completed the distance in 1:45, in what was his second score of the season in nine chances. SHOWS OLD FORM. Strabo, a good stake winner in his three-year-old form back in 1937, but a failure last season, showed a flash of his top form in taking the place. Wright had him closest to the two leaders for the initial six furlongs, and the son of Pompey responded gamely to a hard drive in the final quarter. The race should do him considerable good. Sandy Boot, ever a keen stretch runner, was closer than anticipated to the pace and finished steadily under hard urging. Hes another which should show to better advantage in his next. Twelve cheap platers to race at six furlongs was the first offering and it brought the winner in Cycle, from the Howe stable. He earned a close decision over W. Hirschen-sohns Cobe, with Mrs. Kate Lauras Eldee saving third from Bright and Early. There was some delay at the post, for which Red Tack was to blame. After he had been banished to a position outside the stalls he got away slowly in a start that was otherwise good. Alarming was the first to reach a racing stride, and Johnny Longden rushed him until he was two lengths clear at the end of the first fui-long. Cobe, leaving from an outer stall, was just showing before Repercussion, and then came Credence, Cycle and Bright and Early racing closely lapped. In the final furlong, Cycle and Cobe hooked up in a duel and right to the line they raced closely lapped, but the Howe stable gelding had his head in front at the last stride. This duel took the pair out four lengths before the others, and Eldee, coming with a rush in the last twenty yards, beat Bright and Early half a length for third. BALLAST REEF SCORES. Matt Brady sent out his second new juvenile for William Ziegler, Jr., to have him winner, as was Pilot Biscuit Saturday, when he saddled Ballast Reef in the second offering. This was a five-furlong dash that brought a good finish when the son of Gino and Sun Lightship was doing his best to outfinish Merry Knight, a son of. Sir Gal-lahad III., that carried the silks of the Wheatley Stable. Well back of the two, third went to George D. Wideners Seasonal, and Set, a stablemate of Merry Knight, was fourth. Don Meade rode his first winner of the New York season when he had the mount on the Greentree Stables One By One in the third race, a dash of six furlongs for three-year-old maidens. Wm. Woodwards Thel-lusson, a first-time starter, raced to the place and Whisperer was third. Whisperer and One By One beat the others from the gate and they raced closely lapped until well inside the final furlong. There Whisperer weakened and One By One drew out. Thellusson had found his way into third place at the head of the stretch, but he was some three lengths back of the leaders. In the last furlong he steadily drew up on One By One until he was right at the heels of the Greentree gelding. Both One By One and Thellusson are nominees for the Kentucky Derby, but there is slight chance that either one will be sent after that stake. PROVES EASY WINNER. Guy Fawkes, racing for A. C. Norris and the longest-priced of the five that raced in the fourth race, was one of the easy winners of the afternoon. He was saddled by Andy Schuttinger and, making - his first appearance since last June at Agawam, was a fit horse and made a show of his company. Deep End, from the Paragon Stable and one that was second choice at 11 to 5, took the place, well before Joe W. Browns Spillway, while Half Time, the favorite, could only finish fourth. At the end of the card there was another six furlongs dash" for three-year-old maiden colts and geldings, it being a split of the third. This brought a double for John Hay Whitneys silks when Counterpoise was winner. It was a double also shared by Earl Sande, who had sent out the other winner, Heather Broom, and they were both ridden by Basil James. .
