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REFLECTIONS — — — — — — — — By Nelson Dunstan — — — — — — Gallorette in Top Flight or Suburban Assault Versus Boswell in Belmont Jet Pilot to Be Tested in Stallion Wade: Monmouth Park Will Be Ready NEW YORK, N. Y., May 25. After winning the mile Nimba Handicap at Belmont yesterday, Gallorette worked out an additional eighth, completing the full distance in 1:50%. The question now is whether she will start in the Top Flight Handicap next Wednesday, or await the running of the 0,000 Suburban on Thursday. The Top Flight is a 0,000 added race and, while we cannot say that the Brann filly has that event at her mercy, we are of the opinion that she would be returned the winner. The Suburban still shapes up as the best handicap event of the season to date. Ed Christmas, Gallorettes trainer, already has told this writer of his high regard for Calumet Farms Armed, the Widener and Dixie winner. Even if Gallorette is an absentee, Armed will meet some of the best handicap performers in the country, for First Fiddle, Fighting Step, Concordian, Sirde, Snow Boots, Coincidence and others, are among the eligibles. Polynesian, winner over the straightaway last Wednesday, is a nominee, but we doubt that he will start. Regardless of the outcome of the Peter Pan, a controversy will rage as to the relative merits of Assault and Lord BosweU, who will meet in the Belmont Stakes next Saturday. Many admirers of the Texas-bred horse stoutly contend that he will capture the Belmont as easily as he won the Derby. They dismiss the Preakness with the statement that Mehrtens made his move too soon and therefore his mount had little left when Lord Boswell challenged in the closing strides. Realizing it is always dangerous to forecast the result of a race, we still are of the opinion that Lord Boswell will stick close to Assault, regardless of who makes the pace, and then fight it out with the Derby-Preakness winner in the stretch. If the race is run in that fashion the seventy-eighth Belmont should be a bitterly fought contest from start to finish. We do not look for more than six — or possibly seven — starters, but it is safe to say that all eyes will be focused on the Preakness leaders when they clash once again. The secondary feature on Belmont day will be the National Stallion Stakes. The main question regarding the Belmont, of course, is whether Assault can win the race and become the seventh horse to annex the "Triple Crown" in this country. The National Stallion, however, is a five-furlong event that has drawn some of our best two-year-olds. Jet Pilot is among the eligibles and from all indications this Maine Chance colt, who is by Blenheim II. — Black Wave, should take plenty of beating if he goes to the post. There are many angles of interest in the Stallion, for the best stables in this country have nominated youngsters whose racing ability has not yet been tested. They boast fine pedigrees. Brookmeade Stable, Calumet Farm, Walter Chrysler Jr., Greentree Stable, William Helis, F. W. Hooper, C. V. Whitney, A. G. Vander-bilt, George D. Widener and ever so many others, have youngsters on the eligible list who may be champions in the making. The National Stallions roster contains the names of some of the best two-year-olds of their seasons, and it could be that the leaders in this thirty-fourth running will be fighting it out for the championship this autumn. This morning we talked with Horace Wade, director of publicity at Monmouth Park, who said: "After looking around, I am fully satisfied that our track will be completed by June 10, when we are scheduled to open. It has been a tough pull, but I am really happy to say that we will be ready." The return of racing to Monmouth Park after an absence of many years brings a nostalgic feeling. As turf programs go today, Monmouth Park is keeping in step with the trend, even though the richest stake will have a purse of only 5,000 added. Before summer New Jersey will have three major tracks in operation. Garden State already has proved itself capable of living up to the best traditions of the sport, and we are convinced that Monmouth Park and the new Atlantic City track will be conducted on the same high plane. We have only to read the names of the men behind these new organizations to know their objectives will be beyond reproach. When a new race track is contemplated, this is one of the first questions asked by the promoters: "Is there a sufficient number of people within a given radius of the track to warrant the thought that it will have its share of fans?" In that, Atlantic City, which is self-styled "the health and pleasure capital of the world," seems admirably situated. During the war Atlantic City was a training and rehabilitation center for Air Force personnel, the Army taking over the huge convention hall and 47 hotels. At the moment, the Army is using only the Chalfonte Hotel as a hospital base and intends releasing it on June 30. During 1945 Atlantic City did a business of 00,000,000. Rents skyrocketed and, believe it or not, "hot dog" stands — which rented for ,000 — cleared 6,000 between Decoration Day and Labor Day. Until a year ago air lines had few passengers to Atlantic City, but in the last 20 days of April small lines carried in 2,500 people. Hotel men in Atlantic City now believe they cannot miss 50,000,000 in business this year. That, in our opinion, makes the city a perfect locale for a race track. We believe the course will do a thriving business from the day it opens.
