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1 ■ 1 — """a JUDGES STAND —~ By Charles Hatton Story Book Horse in Santa Anita Cap Hyde Park Today Accrues Special Interest Hancock Foresees Strong Yearling Market Latest Bulletin on Most Newsworthy Horse The fabulous Santa Anita Handicap, worlds richest horse race, claims turf enthusiasts attention today. The Golden States gold. D ia°e has a thoroughly representative field, even though 1 ■ 1 it it is is this this season season run run concurrent concurrent with with mid- it it is is this this season season run run concurrent concurrent with with mid- mid-western and eastern meets instead of early in March. It is not extravagant to say that the winner of this revival running of Santa Anitas "100 grander will vie with Devil Diver and Rounders for the 1945 handicap title later in the summer and fall. It is a far cry from winning the Albuquerque Futurity to winning the Santa Anita Handicap, but a good many native sons fane. -flat the colorful careerist. Gay Dalton. will climax his spectacular rise to fame and fortune in that that fashion fashion today. today. Nor Nor is is it it every every day day that that — """a that that fashion fashion today. today. Nor Nor is is it it every every day day that that a mare who is "weeded out produces a favorite for 00,000. as Gas Bag has in Thumbs Up. But Santa Anita history is full of such fanciful things, its first winner. Azucar. in 1935, was an Irish-bred steeplechaser, and its latest winner, Bay View, in 1941, was a reformed plater. Not forgetting Seabiscuifs extraordinary "comeback in 1940, when he won in the record time of 2:0113 under 130 pounds after having been beaten a total distance of less than one yard for two previous runnings of the 00,000 "Gold Rush." When Doc Strub and his associates announced the first Santa Anita Handicap, turf folk put their tongues in their cheeks and predicted that it would be the last at such a staggering added value, recalling the American Derby of the so-called "rubber check." It was a bold stroke on Strubs part, but the soundness of his judgment has been proved, for it has lured many "name" horses 3.000 miles to compete, and it contributes more than any other race to Californias status as one of the countrys "big time" turf centers. Chicagos track crowds will see a dual feature bill at Washington Park this afternoon, when Ben Lindheimer offers the old Hyde Park and the young Princess Doreen. each enriched with 5,000. Csually it takes a first-rate colt to win a Hyde Park. In the last half dozen years it has been won by Roman, Misty Isle, Alsab and Free for AH. The approaching futurities and yearling sales give this renewal a special interest. The quickest male two-year-olds uncovered thus far in 1945 are in the Midwest. A. B. Hancock told us at Paris, Ky., the other day that the many high born babes he is grooming for the Keeneland auctions are coming up to the sales in fine bloom and condition. "Judging from the average for The Barington Stable horses, one would think that the yearling market will be at least as good as that in 44. possibly averaging about ,000, said the master of Claiborne. The average was ,261.75 at Keeneland last summer Hancock added that he is pleased about the Hooper, Maine Chance and Helis horses faring so well, as their owners are among the most generous in support of the yearling mart He thinks that the renaissance of California racing will help stimulate business this summer. "There does not seem to be any special center of gravity so far as the best location for sales is concerned." he said. "Buyers come from literally all over the country." Each summer a number of yearlings cataloged for sale are hurt in the paddocks or become ill and must be withdrawn, but the Blue Larkspur— Risk filly and Blenheim II — Black Wave colt, who are expected to be so much sought, have escaped these things so far. Both are from stout producing families, and Hancock says he is "a firm believer" in the efficiency of mares from certain families. Risks is among the best as she has produced Danger Point, Sky Larking, Little Risk and Beaugay. She now has a light chestnut filly foal by Whirlavvav and , in foal to Count Fleet. "Frank Hackett tells me that Risk «M herself one of the fastest yearlings he has seen, but she was in a lightning storm at Saratoga and became so unnerved that n0t trained SUCCessfull-v and cocksaid «- retired "Han- Man o War is the most newsworthy horse, according to a po.l He is "in the news" just now as the maternal l Sdnf 1 ThUmbS LP and Pavot and as th* -"of "£ W Kilt. The Astoria, at Aqueduct today, will be the crurihl*. P ,n Hh.ch War Kilts tested: quality is as he «il face Mush Mush. Forgetmenow and five others. We saw Hf Red E2T"£ thCeek at FarawaV and Charle* Gribbfn ad I Z : !, •• ,S„d.0,"g very we" for his *ee- h*s teeth and legs War "ar Zv "*£ CarSC dam of Uar Kilt- SPeed Boat and Kehc. was barren in 44. but is in foal to War Admiral. figmatneatntn0? u™* ~5£ in °* season tos**d a iigiuatne Hat into the three-year-old filly ring when shP wnr oXT debUtBefteEftrtTaleVOt- ""S.hS «W7 une uaj. . . . nest Effort, lone three-year-old in th* Kant*. muddv Ha,HdiT- W°HId be °ne 0f the vorites we e tne go?ng XS£ *!f shipped out of the Downs on the decided eve of a Dpi ueiby hv in the going he likes r„c-v.-J. i , gtonaddf-hit1ting C°1L Arlington-Wshl • ingion adds 0,000 to its Grassland Handicap, mile and a furlong feature, decided on the turf course July 28 Ractng on the grass track is a popular novelty at Homewood
