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. E B. t $ i 1 E s w O of L E . " is v v C 0 I In jj in p _ V O t f jj * v f r ■ I fc ,, 1 ! " S f I l ■ t V s c C J , J 1 ] j Thumbs Up Makes 1944 Debut Today Takes Up Top Weight of 126 Pounds in Featured Fighting Fox Handicap JAMAICA, L. I., N. Y., April 19.— Louis Mayers sterling handicap horse, Thumbs Up, is slated to make his 1944 debut in the ,100 Fighting Fox Handicap, six furlong feature of tomorrows program at Jamaica. The five-year-old son of Blenheim II. -Gas Bag, by Man o War, is top weight of the select field of five with 126 pounds, and will be ridden by Steve Brooks. His quartet rivals are: Mrs. J. S. Letelliers Jack S. L, 120; Woolford Farms Signator, 117; Bert Pomeroys Blue Serge, 112, and Lt. Alfred G. Vanderbilts Zanzibar, 110. Thumbs Up, who drew many votes as "Handicap Horse of the Year", last season, clearly the class of the Fighting Fox and will probably rule the favorite in the wagering. He has not raced since last October 16, when he was a clever winner over Mokablue at Pimlico at nine furlongs. his race before that, he stepped a mile 1:36 % over a sloppy track at Belmont Park, to beat such as With Regards, First Fiddle and Pictor. He had considerable weight up in both those races. Wintered in California In appearance Thumbs Up has impressed observers as having actually improved over the winter, which he passed in sunny California, where he had the advantage of being able to train over Mayers mile training track at the Perris farm. However, his best works have been a half in :51 this morning and six furlongs in 1:17 before that. As he is usually a good work horse he may not be quite ready. Signator was an ignominious favorite here last Saturday when he finished last, beaten a half dozen lengths by Brownie with Jack S. L. breezing home and Doubl-rab also preceding him under the wire. The Woolford sprinter had been coughing since his arrival from Florida, where his form was rather erratic and may have been short of work. Jack S. L., who will undoubtedly draw much support from the public, came from • last place in that race to be a fast-closing second, beaten a length and one-half by the nimble Brownie. If Nick Jemas, who will again have the mount on the chestnut son of Jack High, can keep him a little closer to the early pace, he will take a lot of beating in the Fighting Fox. Blue Serge won a couple of races at New Orleans Fair Grounds and scored in his only start here, carrying the steadying impost of 126 pounds, but appears to be a bit over his head in this company. Zanzibar has not started since November 13 and is pointing for the 5,000 Grey Lag Handicap at a mile and one-eighth here on closing day, May 6. The son of Discovery has done most of his running in races a bit longer than a mile.
