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JUDGES STAND By Charles Hatron Speed Duel Looms in Preakness Renewal Must Outrun Hoop to Beat Him/ Dodson East vs. West in Pimlico Oaks Saturday Jamaica Owners to Increase Facilities BALTIMORE. Md., June 13. Chatting with Ben Jones and Doug Dodson, in the Calumet tack room the other morning, the talk turned, naturally, to the Preakness here this week-end Observing that Pot o Luck could not run down Hoop Jr. going a mile and a quarter in the Derby, Plain Ben will not be lured to Pimlico to attempt doing that at the sixteenth mile shorter route of the Run for the Black-Eyed Susans." But Plain Doug may have the leg up on Col. E. R. Bradley *s colt. Burning Dream, if the son of Big Bim is a starter. This depends on whether the track is dry. Dodson has never been beaten on The Dreamer, or any other Idle Hour runner for that matter. The 24-year-old Elk River. Idahoan, has some interesting theories about the Preakness. He believes that if Hoop Jr. is to be beaten in the run over the Hilltop, one of the field must generate the speed to make the Alabaman run from the drop of the flag. "You have to catch him to beat him," he pointed out. adding: They say he can come from behind, but his best races have been running on the lead. It is only logical to take this advantage." But where, he wondered aloud, is the colt gifted with zip enough to eliminate time and space at the same rate as the Hoop. "Why, Pavot can | I take him right by the head." Dodson estimated. "I do not know if Pavot will stay, but he has as much speed as he is ever likely to need." So this Preakness may be a horse race — for a while. anyway. Preakness history is subtly spotted with upsets. A majority of the trainers of Derby also rans have conceded Hoop Jr. the Maryland Jockey Clubs "piece de resistance," but we are reminded that Cavalcade breezed to the Derby field, then could not beat his stablemate, High Quest, here at Baltimore. More recently, Challedon turned the tables on Johnstown, and Alsab evened his score with Shut Out moving: from Louisville to the Hilltop. There is always that element of "glorious uncertainty." We do not suggest that Hoop Jr. does not merit the post of favoritism in the Preakness, but there are no invincible horses. "Any of them will be beaten if they run often enough," Ben Jones says on this subject, although he is content to let Hoop Jr. run a few more times before choosing him with Pot o Luck. We should guess, by the way, that Chance Plays plodding son is a keen prospect for such marathons as the autumns Realization, Jockey Club Cup, etc. Pimlicos "Dream Program" includes races which may have a bearing on the titles in the handicap and three-year-old filly divisions. These are its Dixie and Oaks. Jimmy Smith will saddle Be Faithful, a leggy daughter of Bimelech, to meet Gallorette and Recce in the 0,000 Oaks. This Idle Hour-bred was a rather conspicuous absentee from the Kentucky version of the various Oaks, but ran to Keeneland works in an overnighter. "Recce came up from the farm a trifle high in flesh," Lydell Ruff observes, "and I expect her to improve over her Acorn race." The Dixie may not lure Greentrees sturdy Devil Diver, as it conflicts with the Suburban, but that 0,000 added will persuade owners to name a representative field. There are 19 nominees. "The Diver" is an ominous figure in handicap ranks just now. He incidentally owes his distinction of being the only three-time Metropolitan winner to the fact that "Ekky," who was first in 1933. 34 and 35, was disqualified in the last mentioned renewal. This was the race in which Chase Me was fatally injured. It was one of the most eventful races we ever covered. Col. Matt Winn says of the acquisition of Jamaica stock by the other New York clubs that: "It assures the continued high standards of racing there. The New York tracks have always co-operated to give the public the best possible sport. There is no friction. Their mutual interest is the best interests of the game. " Jamaicas owners should need no prompting concerning the comfort of postwar patrons. Nearly all clubs have drawn up tentative plans for improvement when priorities are forthcoming. It seems probable Churchill Downs will raze the stadium at its stretch turn, replacing it with a longer, deeper stand. •* This will be needed, judging from last Saturdays crowd. "The actual turnstile count was some 76.000," Colonel Winn tells us. This is exclusive of about 5,000 employees. Preakness Prattle: . . . The Pimlico course has been kept in peak condition since its 10-day meet. A fast Preakness is possible f the weather is clear. . . . Christianas Joshua is an interesting Pimlico Nursery eligible. Charley Kenney, who reared him, thinks this son of Heliopolis — Lull, a potential Alexis. . . . Santa Anita horsemen and track staff are signing up as donors to the Arcadia Red Cross blood bank. . . . Colonel Winn took refuge in the centerfield pagoda early Derby Day. . . . John Swisher, of the Jockeys Guild, believes Pavot would have won the Withers only for bogging down in the deep going. . . . Alex Barth and Bon Jour are Dixie candidates. ... "I really think Free for All might Jiave given that horse Hoop Jr. plenty of trouble in the Derby had he come out of that mile and a furlong work all right," says Jockey C. Steve Stevenson. . . . Thumbs Up and Gay Dalton are currently the "name" horses of the fabulous 00,000 Santa Anita Handicap, June 30. . . . They Say is a feather in the * cap of Pete Wideners youthful Sir Gallahad III. stallion, Roman, a number of whose progeny he is grooming for the Keeneland auctions.
