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| | I t H§ 11a ■ jfcZJ? ■ i|| jjfl ■ft i * *"»: 31 ► , ■ Pukka Gin Likely to Make 1944 Bow in Experimental Tomorrow Boy Knight, Fox Brownie t And Stir Up Also Among Nine Probables for Race JAMAICA. L. I., N. Y., April 10.— A field of nine three-year-olds is in prospect for Wednesdays fifth running of the Experimental Free Handicap, ,000 added test at six furlongs which headlines the mid-week program at Jamaica. By far the most interesting of the prospective candidates is Col. C. V. Whitneys Pukka Gin, who will be making his 1944 debut under top weight of 126 pounds. This Wood Memorial and Kentucky Derby candidate was rated the best of last years crop of juveniles by handicapper John B. Campbell. Pukka Gins starting on Wednesday is contingent on a good or fast track and the same reservation applies to several of the others. All of the potential starters with the exception of Joe W. Browns Fox Brownie, a winner here on Saturday; A. A. Baronis Autocrat, who raced at the current Bay Meadows meeting, and Greentree Stables Stir JJp, winner oi the Flamingo at Hialeah, are said to be a work or two short of peak condition. Last weeks snow delayed the preparation of most of the horses who wintered on Long Island. The nine probables, in order of their weights, are: Pukka Gin, 126; Crispin Ogle-bays Boy Knight, 119; Greentree s Stir Up, 114; Belair Studs Thread o Gold. 112: Joe W. Browns Fox Brownie, 110; Wheatley Stables Stronghold and Brookmeade Stables Ariel Game. 108, and Cain Hoy Stables Tit Tat Toe and A. A. Baronis Autocrat. 106. Wood Next Objective of Many In view of the uncertain condition of the | "name horses in this field, it is difficult to l forecast the favorite, though there will be some sentimental support for Pukka Gin, and Stir Ups surprising victory in the Flamingo has given him something of a reputation which requires confirmation. An indication of the class of the field expected to compete in the Experimental may be gleaned from the fact that all the likely starters have been named for the Kentucky Derby with the exception of Tit Tat Toe and Stronghold, and most of them are expected to get their final public preps for the Blue Grass classic in the Wood Memorial here on April 22. The Experimental, which is Campbells counterpart of the famous English Free Handicap, run anually at Newmarket, was inaugurated in 1940 with Colonel Whitneys Parasang splashing home under 115 pounds. The following year Brookmeade Stables Mettlesome scored with 116 pounds in the saddle. In 1942 Belair Studs Apache was the winner under the same impost, while last year. W. E. Boeings Slide Rule triumphed with 120. Incidentally two of the previous winners of the Experimental gave good j j accounts of themselves in the Paumonok last Saturday, when Apache finished second to Devil Diver while Mettlesome, carrying the colors of Mrs. B. DiGiorgio. came from far back to run fourth. The Experimental is a "free" handicap in the sense that it costs nothing — except juvenile performance — to qualify and the only fee is 00 to actually start. Riders have been assigned for most of the nine named. Ted Atkinson is slated to be aboard Pukka Gin, Johnny Gilbert will ride Boy Knight. Jimmy Stout will be Thread o" Golds pilot, Ariel Game will be steered by Continued on Page- Six | l HERBERT BAYARD SWOPE— The New York State Racing Commission chairman anounced that bodys approval of a plan whereby purses under 55,000 would be boosted 00 to take care of charges in connection with leading horses to the paddock. I j j Expect Pukka Gin to Be In Experimental Field Boy Knight, Fox Brownie May Face Whitney Colt in Tomorrows Race Continued from Page One Jimmy Lynch. Eric Guerin is to ride Fox Brownie. Tit Tat Toe will have Doug Dod- son in the saddle and Johnny Breen will ride Stronghold. Eddie Arcaro will, as ; usual, be aboard Stir Up. That leaves only Autocrat without a pilot at this writing. At the weights and abbreviated distance, one of the lighter weights may prove ex- ! ceedingly dangerous in this young fixture. I Fox Brownie had relatively little to beat on Saturday, but scored with authority. Arid Game has been working well and has early foot. Trainer-owner Baroni has high ! hopes for Autocrat, although he ran second in his only start at Bay Meadows last month.
