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Here and There on the Turf Third Degree Impresses Lovely Night Qualifies El Chico to Get Test Narragansett Interest High Third Degree is a delicate-appearing sort of colt, but a runner just th same. He made his first public appearance Thursday at Keeneland and showed he had not grown at all since last fall, although trainer John Gaver did everything it was humanly possible to do to encourage the colts development. Although still a small-sized colt, the son of Questionnaire and Panache, by Broomstick, demonstrated that he must be regarded as an outstanding three-year-old prospect until hes proven otherwise. His 1939 debut was made in a race of a mile and one-sixteenth, in which his stablemate, Roll and Toss, was his most formidable rival, but Third Degree was never out of strong restraint from Eddie Arcaro and he galloped around the track and he had to win when the other Greentree Stable colorbearer couldnt do any better, although repeatedly stung with the whip. In winning so easily in the time of 1:46 over a dull track, Third Degree established himself as a more likely hopeful than Hash and whether or not he has a running mate in the Blue Grass Stakes next Thursday he will be an odds-on favorite. That test of a mile and one furlong probably will mark Third Degrees final competitive seasoning prior to the Derby, and if his effort is as easy as it promises to be the Questionnaire colt should come up to the Derby in the best possible manner for one of his stature. After the Blue Grass he will require just a couple of trials at Churchill Downs to be in readiness for a mile and one-quarter effort. Trainer Gaver, of course, will not know whether Third Degree is a Derby horse until the race is run. Another three-year-old making a good impression Thursday was Lovely Night, which the veteran Henry McDaniel is training for Mrs. F. Ambrose Clark. The son of Pilate and Snooze, by Peter Pan, was right at being a good two-year-old last season and by showing a little improvement, as was indicated in his 1939 debut, he may go far within his division this season. McDaniel called upon him to go a mile and seventy yards in muddy going the first time out, but Lovely Night demonstrated a good training foundation as he covered the distance in 1:45 to defeat Counterpoise by a length and a half, the latter colt having the benefit of a victorious effort earlier in the week. The class of Lovely Night will be tested in the Wood Memorial next Saturday, after which he will have a couple of weeks to make ready for the Preakness, not being eligible to the Kentucky Derby. El Chico took a step nearer to fitness for his Wood Memorial engagement by working a mile in 1:40 in the mud the other morning, but last seasons juvenile champion Isnt impressing all of the horsemen at Belmont Park where he Is training. The weather has Remainder on thirty-first page. HERE AND THERE ON THE TURF Continued from second page been against Matt Brady In his handling of the fleet son of John P. Grier and La Chica. and the colts like Johnstown, which have trained at Aqueduct, appear to have an edg on El Chico in conditioning. William Zieg-ler, Jr.s star may come around, however, and prove in the Wood Memorial that he Is the same keen colt which swept through the juvenile division last year, but if ho doesnl . run well in the Jamaica feature next Saturday, it will not be surprising to the writer II he is withdrawn from the Derby. He will have to bo good for the Wood, because that event promises to have one of the best fields in its history. He is listed as a starter In the Stuyvcsant Handicap at Jamaica today though only Thursday it was announced h would be saved for the Wood. Racing returns to New England today with J the beginning of Narragansctt Parks spring J meeting, one of three periods of tho sport to be offered at the popular Rhode Island course this season, and indications point to an increase in patronage if the weather behaves. Under the leadership of judge James E. Doolcy, Narragansett Park gained in public confidence last year and the results should be seen this season. Owners of the more important stables will be giving the track greater support, as has been shown already in the nominations to the stakes to be staged during the spring meeting. If the New York-owned establishments are unable to be represented at Narragansett by divisions, they at least will be shipping their slakes candidates there and with New England fans appreciating good horses, they will enjoy the features of the Pawlucket course.
