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REFLECTIONS By NELSON DUNSTAN CHURCHILL downs, Louisville, Ky.. April 30. — Following the running of the Derby Trial, here were myi dad opinions here regarding the lVrby winner. Many said. "If Faultless does NOT win the winner will have him to boat ." Eddie Arcaro. wlio was a spectator at the Trial, told this writer, after tho race. "Faultless is a Rood colt, but I doubt if he can beat Phalanx. In fact. I did not see one horse m tho Trial that I behove can boat my mount on Saturday. This is just an opinion, you understand, but that is tho way I see it now." Star Neward was the surprise in the Derby prop. Away badly, t lie Dixiana colt closed like a bullet and many thought ho would have been the winner with a better break in the luck. Cosmic Dontl showed fine early speed, but fell back after going seven -eighths. Ho wont on to a mile and a quarter in 2:071.-.. and will probably improve from that effort. The shoulder that bothered Stepfather in California, and also Jamaica, asserted itself again yesterday, but today Graceton Philpot. his trainer, told us ho came out of the race in good shape. "I would have been inclined to scratch him, but had I done so. I would have had to Withdraw him from the Derby. I am now hoping for the best." AAA Since its inaugural running in 1938, no winner of the Derby Trial has gone on to a Derby victory. Some people look upon this prep race as being the same jinx that the Belmont Futurity is to the "Run for the Roses." We fail to see the sense of this. Both the Wood Memorial and the Chesapeake Stakes have produced Derby winners, but both of these races are much older than the Trial. Law-rin. Gallahadion and Whirlaway all ran second in the Trial and then won the Derby. But there is nothing to say this years Trial winner, or for that matter, some Derby Field Shapes Up After Trial Bullet Proof, Liberty Road Dark Horses Fears Eddie Arcaro May Be Over-Anxious* Derby Attendance Record Possibility future winner, will not come out for a Derby victory within tho week. Tho fact that the Trial is at one mile and the Derby at a mile and a quarter may have some bearing on it. AAA The arrival of Bullet Proof and Liberty Road from the East quickened Derby Interest here at the Downs. While Bullet Proof has been lightly regarded, we now look upon him as a real "dark" horse of the Kentucky classic. As we were in Kentucky, we did not see his surprise victory in the Chesapeake Stakes. However, a study of the chart reveals that he ran one of the most impressive races turned in by a three-year-old so far this season. Riskolater is another who can be looked upon as a longshot possibility, for his effort against Faultless in the Blue Grass Stakes was even better than his previous start. Jockeys with Derby mounts are also arriving. A. S. Hewitt, who, with C. V. Whitney, owns Phalanx, is well pleased that Eddie Arcaro will ride the son of Pilate. "I hope he does not get over-anxious," Hewitt said, "for along with Isaac Murphy and Earl Sande, he has ridden three Derby winners and naturally wants to creat a new record by making it four." We do not believe that there is any cause for concern on that score, for while Arcaro was excitable in the old days, he is now "all business" in an important race. AAA Now that the Derby Trial is history, Louisville will quickly take on a pre-war atmosphere before Friday night. Although hotel prices are back on the standards of a decade ago. it is next to impossible to obtain a room unless reservations were made far in advance. Now that the number of Derby starters has been fairly well established, the question heard most concerns the size of the throng that will be on hand when they play "My Old Kentucky Home" late Saturday afternoon. The attendance may not reach the 125.000 that Colonel Winn expects, but there is a very good chance of a new record being established here at the Downs. Last year the attendance was 102,000 but, as we understand it, this figure included everyone within the confines of the track. This renewal of the Derby is still "wide open," in our opinion, and it is that sort of a race which is conducive to attracting a record-breaking throng. AAA While the Derby will grip the attention of the nation on the week-end, New Yorkers are promised a fine contest in the 0,000 Grey Lag Handicap. Assault will face a stern test, for John B. Campbell has assigned the "Triple Crown" winner the top weight of 128 pounds, two above that of Stymie. This Is the start of the many rich races for the handicap performers in the eastern area, the next being the Dixie Handicap, which will be the feature event at Pimlico on May 9, the day before the running of the Preakness. During the past few months so much attention has been given the three-year-olds that there has not been a great deal of news concerning the older horses who, in our opinion, will be staging more interesting races than the younger division in the months to come. There is not an abundance of "name" horses in the older ranks, for the three-year-olds of 1946 contributed very few that measure up to the top racers who will be fighting for the money-winning throne of Whirl-away this season. We are all waiting for the day when Armed, Stymie and Assault are in the same post parade.
