view raw text
, . ; HARRY A. PARR III— The Maryland Jockey Club president, expects to be host to a record crowd for the presentation of the tracks five-stake program, headed by the fifty-fifth Preakness, at the old Pimlico course today. Hoop Jr. and Pavot Head Nine Entered for Preakness Stakes Derby Winner to Rule Slight4 Favorite Over Jeffords Colt Both Camps Confident of Success in Fifty-Fifth Running Of Pimlicos Three-Year-Old Fixture; Also Renew Dixie, Oaks, Nursery, Jennings Handicap on Star-Studded Card BALTIMORE, Md.. June 15.— The Preak-« ness has its 55th running at Pimlico here tomorrow as the stellar attraction on what is one of the most pretentious programs ever presented at any American race course, one of which also offers renewals of the Dixie, Pimlico Oaks, Pimlico Nursery and Jennings Handicap. The mile and three-sixteenths of the famed "Run for the Black -Eyed Susans," second of the "Triple Crown" events, has drawn a promised field of nine, headed by Fred W. Hoopers Derby victor, Hoop Jr., and his chief rival for the three-year-old title, Walter M. Jeffords Pavot. Experts in such matters expect that Hoop Jr. will be favorite at about 8 to 5 in this 0,000 added event, with the 1944 juvenile leader 5 to 2. A victory for any of the remaining septet would be in the nature of an upset. This venturesome group is comprised of Boba-net Stables Bobanet. C. S. Howards Sea Swallow, Christianas Alexis. Mrs. W. G. Lewis Darby Dieppe, Mrs. P. A. B. Wide-ners Polynesian, Pentagon Stables The Doge and William Helis Adonis. Hoop Jr. just about annihilated the Derby field at Louisville last week-end. whereas Pavot encountered the first reversal in his otherwise unblemished career when Polynesian nosed him out in the Withers. But the Jeffords colts subsequent Preakness trials have been sensational to a degree, and he has grown in public favor by leaps and bounds. Eiqht in Dixie The 0,000 added Dixie Handicap, also at a mile and three-sixteenths, conflicts with Belmonts Suburban but nevertheless has drawn a smart field of eight, among whom Bon Jour, Alex Barth, Megogo and Rounders are most familiar. Handicapper Charles McLennan requires Bon Jour to carry 124 and concede Alex Barth three, Rounders and Megogo six pounds apiece. The remaining entrants are Spangled Game, under 117: He Rolls. 116: Lord Calvert, 113. and Gay Bit, the lightweight, under 108. It is difficult even to pick the favorite in this array, but Alex Barth. runner-up to Devil Diver in the Metropolitan, may be "elected." W. L. Branns Maryland -bred Gallorette. runner-up in a division of the Wood and heroine of the Acorn, looms "the one to beat" in a field of seven named for the 0,000 Pimlico Oaks. Col. E. R. Bradleys i BcFaithful, a two-time winner at Church- I ill Downs, and Col. C. V. Whitneys Recce, one of the smartest juveniles of her sex last season, will not lack for support. The others are War Strategy, Brides Biscuit, Blue Deck and Snow Maid. As in the instance of the Preakness, the Oaks entrants carry level weights. There are only four, all more or less unfamiliar, in the ,000 Nursery, while the Jennings, a six furlonger billed as the nightcap drew a field of 12 shifty sprinters, Continued on Page Thirty -Ons Hoop Jr. and Pavot Head Field of Nine For Fifty-Fifth Running of Preakness Derby Victor May Be Slight 4 Favorite Over Rival; Also Renew Four Other Stakes Continued from Page One including Director J. E., Quien Es, New Moon, Hasteville and Sophocles. I Harry Parr and Matt Daiger of the Mary- I land Jockey Club are justified in expecting the largest gathering in the ancient hill-tops history to witness this all-star matinee of the turf sport. The record is 37,000 pres- I ent Preakness Day in 35. Indications point [ to clear, mid-summer weather. Virtually all boxes were sold during the 10-day spring meeting. A record which definitely will be established during the day is the total distribution to horsemen, and the Preakness award to the winner. The gross for the day will ! be 65,410. The Preakness will gross J 7,670, the net, depending on whether the winner is, like Hoop Jr., a supplemental candidate, or an original nominee, as is ! Pavot. The Dixie will have a value of 4,950, the Oaks 2,950. Hoop Jr.s 2:07 for the mile and a quarter of last week-ends Derby was a remarkable exhibition in the mud, in view of his facile victory. And Pavot equalled Pensives Preakness time in 1944 when he was clocked in 1:59 Vs in his finale Tuesday afternoon. The Preakness record is Alsabs 1:57, flat. "I believe my colt is ready to run the race ►• . of his life," the usually conservative Ivan Parke said of Hoop Jr., after his charge aired six furlongs in 1 : 13 here this morning. "He has done very well since the Derby. " Oscar White, developer of Pavot, this morning observed: "I am perfectly satisfied with Pavots condition and I believe that we have a solid chance. His work was good and he was only breezing in 1:0125 when we blew him out just now." Almost completely ignored are such capable runners as Alexis, Polynesian, Darby Dieppe and Sea Swallow. Sea Swallow, Alexis and Darby Dieppe all gave futile pursui* to Hoop Jr. in the recent Derby, in which Darby Dieppe was third. The Doges connections frankly are not sure he will like the Preakness distance, and Bobanets camp is hoping for mud. The Preakness rather obscures the Dixie, Pimlico Oaks and other stakes in general interest, but the two mentioned have a traditional value and importance not to be minimized. Alex Barth could run when he sharpened for the Dixie this morning. Wearing blinkers and with Pavots exercise boy up, he skipped a quarter in :2445 and the half in :50 with such consummate ease that it suggested he will take a great deal of beating in this mile and three-sixteenths "classic for handicappers." Bon Jour, another plater gone aristocratic, Is estimated to be several pounds better by Charles McLennan, but the crowd is likely to disagree with the astute handicapper in the wagering.
