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Make-Up of Dwyer Field Is Uncertain Status of Natchez, Mahout From Jeffords Stable Adds To Complexity of Situation AQUEDUCT, L. I., N. Y., June 12.— The "Natchez mystery" overshadowed all other news concerning racing for the next few days at Aqueduct this morning. Mrs. Walter M. Jeffords colt, who ran a bang-up second to King Ranchs Assault in the Belmont Stakes, then set a track record in the Kent Stakes at Delaware Park last Saturday, was scheduled to arrive at Belmont Park this morning to take part in next Saturdays 0,000 Dwyer Stakes here at the Queens County Jockey Club plant. Trainer Oscar White telephoned from Delaware Park this morning asking for stalls to be bedded down for Natchez and Mahout and indicated that both would run in the week-end race here. Natchez is improving so rapidly that he would be a real threat to Assaut in the Dwyer with a five-pound pull in the weights. He received just about a five-pound beating in the Belmont and, being to a certain extent a speed horse, the shorter distance of the mile and a quarter Dwyer may be in his favor. If Natchez stays in Delaware he will compete in the Diamond State Stakes, on June 22 and first money in that 5,000 test amounts to more than second money in the Dwyer, which may be a consideration. Incidentally, White has indicated to other trainers that he preferred to keep the colt in Delaware. Getting back to the Dwyer, it appears definite that Natchezs stablemate, Mahout, 1 will start and Wayne D. Wright has been engaged to ride him. On the best information available here, Mahout is a certain starter in the Dwyer and Natchez is a possibility to the extent that a stall has been reserved for him. Undoubtedly, : an announcement of the withdrawal of Assault would encourage trainer White to change his mind about the Jeffords ace. Assault came over to Aqueduct during the afternoon and was walked around the stretch turn to the stable area where he will remain for the night and probably breeze in the morning. Few, if any, in the crowd realized that the champion three-year-old was on the track. Meanwhile, Maine Chance Farms Lord Boswell worked through the slop on Belmonts main track this morning in style » suggesting that if the rains continue he will 1 have something to say about the Dwyer, 1 despite his poor effort in the Belmont. Mrs. Elizabeth N. Grahams colt worked a mile : and a quarter in 2:08% unattended and without blinkers, and finished better than 1 he started, with fractions of :52%, 1:18, 1:42% and 1:55 Vs. At this time Assaults connections, Robert t Kleberg and trainer Max Hirsch, seem almost equally undecided about this colts 5 future plans. It was originally planned to skip the Dwyer and give the hard-working [ son of Bold Venture a rest after the 1 Belmont, but he has been doing so well since J his capture of the "Triple Crown" that it was decided to send him postward again on | Saturday. However, Hirsch, intimated that j he planned to take it easy with Assault after r that race, except for possibly starting him ■ In the 0,000 Empire City Stakes next month, until the Saratoga meeting, where 2 he would appear in the Travers, which is 5 also worth 0,000 this year. In the last 24 hours however, Assaults entourage " have showed signs of veering toward a Chicago campaign for the champion, with 1 the rich Arlington Classic and American 1 Derby as their prime objectives. Nothing is ? yet settled on this point, and it may be said ] that a meeting between Assault and Armed Is extremely unlikely this year, though 1 rumored in the daily press.
