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Keeneland Keeneland Meeting Meeting Opens Opens at at Downs; Downs; Excelsior Excelsior Field Field Headed Headed by by Devil Devil Diver Diver jOnly Four to Face Whitney Stalwart Must Concede Considerable Weight Under 129-Pound Impost; May Be Odds-On JAMAICA. L. I.. N. Y., April 14. —Only five horses were named overnight tj contest the 37th running of the 0,000 Excelsior Handicap, mile and one-sixteenth feature attraction at Jamaica, and the sum number has been entered in the ,100 Silver Fox Handicap, five and one-half furlongs secondary attraction on the program of seven races. Despite the smalt fields, both races promise stimulating con- tests at the weights. Greentree Stables Devil Diver is sure to be a short priced favorite in the Excelsior. probably odds-on, despite his top impost of 129 pounds. This is particularly true in view of the deflection of Belair Studs Apache, who was generally regarded M the Devils chief rival. The four who will opposed the Mrs. Payne Whitney entry are T. H. Heards Boysy, 114; Mrs. T. Christophers Grey Wing, 109: Joe W. Browns Brownie. 107. and Millbrook Stables Alex Barth. 105. Brownie and Boysy finished second and sixth, respectively, in the Paumonok. won by Devil Diver on opening day. Brownie finished two and a half lengths back of the Greentree star in that six-furlong test and was receiving 18 pounds and gets four more tomorrow, which could help his chances, particularly if he receives more assistance from jockey Eric Guerin than that lad was able to provide last week-end. Boysy was beaten a little more than five lengths and is getting three pounds le.ss concession here than in the Paumonok. but will be more at home at the longer route. Have Won at Meeting Grey Wing and Alex Barth are both winners at the meeting, disposing of sdme-i what more modest company. Grey Wing triumphed by five lengths over the three - year-old Stymie. Sugar Ration and the erratic Trierarch and the race should have benefited him considerably, for he ap-j peared high in flesh going to the post for that event. Grey Wings victory was over lithe Excelsior distance, and he will probably be second choice in the wagering. He will be ridden by Charlie Wahler. Alex Barth skipped an engagement in the Paumonok to meet lesser opposition in the following* race on the inaugural pro-2 gram. That this, was a wise decision is indicated by the fact that he was "life and death" to beat Moon Maiden a head, after opening up a two-length lead at the head of the stretch in that mile and one-six -s teenth test, being passed in the drive, then coming on again in the final yards. Nick Jemas will be in the saddle. The Silver Fox gains considerable inter - I est from the seasonal debut of Mrs. Chrts-I j tophers Doublrab. whom trainer Harris S Brown says confidently will be the sprinc Continued on Page Nineteen ! I ! | j • j I ■ ! ■ j j M - - e j _ j " o Devil Diver Heads Excelsior Line-Up Must Concede Considerable; , j : Weight to Four Opponents | 1 i Under His 129-Pound Impost ■ : ! Continued Jrom Page One champion of the year. The gray son of I Sherab is naturally the top weight and I j : will carry 126 pounds. He has been work- . I j jng well for this engagement. His rivals 5 I are Mrs. J. S. Letelliers Jack S. L., 123; ; j ; Brownie, who may go here instead of in the » I ! Excelsior, 120; Woolford Farms Signator, j ! 120. and William Zieglers Breezing Home, the light weight of the party, under 108. The only rider assigned at this writing , I is Johnny Longden, who will be aboard l Breezing Home. - Doublrab has not raced since last July, .. but the gray flyer is good when fresh, , ] j and he will probably rule the choice to- ■ j ; morrow. When in form, he is probably . ! j the top six-furlong horse of the land, as 5 i he has demonstrated on numerous occa-rim. - , Jack S. L. raced well in New Orleans last winter, and has been training briskly j j at Belmont. Park. Signator was an in- .: j tended starter in the Paumonok, but de- ■ j | ■ veloped a cough from which he has fully j i recovered. He had just reached the peak ; j of his form at the end of the Hialeah meet- . j ing. and if back in that condition, he will 1 H extremely dangerous tomorrow. Brownie in Two Races | Brownie is generally considered more at ! j home at the Silver Fox distance than at , j the longer route of the Excelsior, and if r owner Brown and trainer Theall select this I j spot for him, the race will be a wide open , ! ! I scramble, despite its restricted field. i Breezing Home may be a bit over his I j head, but unexpected rain might help him. j I Be, too. has been training steadily. I A cloudless sky for the second straight • day gives promise of a lightning fast strip i • for tomorrows races, though the weather- . ! j man forecasts an overcast late afternoon. • With continued good weather, last Satur- : days record crowd of 45,756 may well be • topped. The Excelsior was inaugurated in 1903, 1 when William Collins Whitneys Block Stock triumphed Under 98 pounds. The j j only other winner of the Excelsior owned ! | j by a member of the Whitney clan was | Green tree Stables Rialto, who scored in I j 1924. The time record for the stake, which i I ; is also the track record, was set by James Butlers Sting in 1925, when he stepped ll the distance in 1:42%. Last years renewal was won by Riverland, with Minee-Mo second and Marriage third.
