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DEMONSTRATE ABILITY IN MUD Xalapa Clown and Technician Able . to Negotiate Off Tracks. Franzheim Colt Works Three-Quarters in 1:16 and Technician Mile in 1:46 Easily. LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 17. While Xalapa Clown impressed none too favorably in several of his recent fast-track workouts since arriving here from California, the Kentucky Derby candidate of Mrs. Bessie Franzheim left nothing to be desired in his mud-running ability in a splendid trial in the soggy going at Churchill Downs yesterday. The black son of Eternal, brought on the track in a light drizzle, fairly skimmed over the course to run six furlongs in 1:16, a time figure that docs not reveal the easy manner in which he accomplished the task. Gay Troubadour, a stablemate, essayed to pace the Derby horse, but after going a quarter mile, which they traveled in :24, Xalapa Clown steadily drew away. Still breezing at the end of the three-quarters, the Eternal colt was fully ten lengths in front of his less fashionable companion. Xalapa Clown pulled up seven-eighths in 1:31. MAY DUPLICATE LAWRINS RECORD. The Franzheim horse, however, was not the only Derby notable to show to good advantage despite the unfavorable training conditions, for Herbert M. Woolfs Technician, the colt many are selecting to duplicate the victory of the same owners Lawrin a year ago, worked nicely to prove himself another candidate whose chances will not be affected by the condition of the track on May 6. Technician, accompanied by Escohigh for a half mile and by Beau Insco for an additional three-eighths, sloshed his way over seven furlongs from the starting gate in 1:29 and pulled up at the end of the "chute" mile having but one turn in 1:46. It was a fine performance by the son of Insco and clearly demonstrated that he is coming up to his Derby engagement in sterling fashion. Trainers Ben Jones and A. C. Dettwiler equipped the Woolf and Franzheim horses with blinkers and cautioned their exercise riders not to permit the horses to fully extend themselves at any time. After drawing away from Gay Troubadour, Xalapa Clown completed a half mile in :50. At this stage Gay Troubadour was about two lengths behind, and later dropped back more rapidly as the Derby colt, still coasting under a strong hold, rounded out three-quarters in 1:16. IMPRESSIVE MOVE. Technician was snugged along with Escohigh as they traveled the first quarter in :24 and half mile in :49, and continued under a steady hold after being joined by Beau Insco.- The watches had Technician in 1:02 for five -furlongs, and. the three-quarters in 1:15. - Trainers of the two horses said that they cooled out splendidly, and expressed themselves as completely satisfied with the condition of their candidates at this stage of the tough Derby grind. The longest move by a Derby eligible here yesterday was that of Mrs. Cecil Gregorys Lostagal, trainer G. R. Gregory sending the son of Hadagal nine furlongs through the mud at Douglas Park in 2:03. The Gregory horse breezed against stout restraint throughout and was timed in :27 for the quarter, :56 for a half mile, 1:23 for three-quarters, and he completed a mile in 1:49. This three-year-old gelding, which does not rate high among the candidates, may be a starter in the big 0,000 fixture, especially if the track is muddy or sloppy. SUNDAY DERBY TRIALS. Competing in the Derby trials at Churchill Downs Sunday were works by J. W. Bells Steel Heels, John Marschs Lightspur and Brown and Fetters Tack Point, each of which breezed slow sprints of three-quarters of a mile. The performances Saturday of El Chico and Johnstown at Jamaica elicited much comment at the Downs, where the feeling was that Johnstown currently would displace El Chico as the public choice for the Derby. Johnstowns feat of beating older horses in the Paumonok Handicap was generally appraised as a performance far superior to that of El Chico, which was beaten a nose by Gilded Knight, also a three-year-old, in the Restigouche Purse. However, horsemen prefer to await the runnings of other pre-Dcrby tests, such as the Chesapeake, Wood Memorial and Blue Grass Stakes, before coming to any definite conclusion, so well matched do they regard the principal Derby horses at this time.
