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Jones Out to Equal Thompsons Record Strikes for Fourth Win With Faultless Saddled Woolfs Lawrin in 1938, Calumets Whirlaway And Pensive in 41 and 44 CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 2.--Most American trainers would be more than content to saddle one Kentucky Derby winner in a lifetime, but tomorrow afternoon here Ben A. Jones will be going after his fourth Derby victory, a niche in history held by but one other man, H. J. "Derby Dick" Thompson. The name of Jones is one of the most widely known in America, but it was not always so. He came up the "hard way" in the old school of training and forged his way into good horses and a good stable after proving his ability with the cheapest. Jones is a native of Parnell, Mo., learning about horses as a youngster in a country noted for mules as well as horses. He gravitated to thoroughbreds, and ancient records show him appearing as a trainer and owner before the first World War. After the war he was well established, and raced at Tijuana in the winter, in the Chicago and other Mid-West areas in the spring, summer and fall. Among the horses which gained him fame were some of his own, sired by the good, if not brilliant, Seth, and who stood at the Jones Stock Farm in his own "Show Me" state. While Seth was not accepted then as being fashionably bred, the Seth horses won race after race. Among those best remembered are Capt. Seth, Major Seth, Colonel Seth and Elizabeth Seth. His first Kentucky Derby winner came after he had accepted a post with Herbert M. Woolf, of Kansas City, Mo., as head trainer. The stable was highly successful from the start. The Derby winner was Lawrin, only Kansas foal to win the race, and a product of Woolfs farm just over the state line from Kansas City. Lawrin was carefully prepped for the 1938 Derby. The son of Insco — Margaret Lawrence won by a length from Dauber, and with such as Cant Wait, Menow, The Chief, Fighting Fox, Co-Sport and Bull Lea finishing behind the colt from Wool-ford Farm, nom de course of Woolf. The race was important in two other respects. Not only did it give Jones his first Derby winner, but did the same for jockey Eddie Arcaro. One of the horses unplaced, Bull Lea, is now one of the leading stallions at Calumet Farm, and Faultless, the Jones and Calumet hope tomorrow, is a son of Bull Lea. Joins Up With Calumet- Jones later left Woolford Farm to accept a post with Calumet, which provided him with his next two victorious opportunities. He saddled the mighty Whirl-away, which scored a spectacular victory to establish the track record of 2:01% for the gruelling mile and a quarter test, a mark that has never been seriously threatened by a horse of any age. Whirlaway went on to win the "Triple Crown," and, like Bull Lea, was retired to stud. Some sons and daughters of the 1941 Derby winner are now in competition, and to date have shown to good advantage. It is quite likely that a Whirlaway offspring may be in the 1948 starting field. The Calumet silks were not carried in the Derby again until 1944 and Pensive, a chestnut son of Hyperion — Penicuk H., proved a surprise victor over a fair field. Jones spent considerable individual time with Pensive; in fact, during the preceding winter Jones took a division of Calumet from Florida to the New Orleans Fair Grounds. Along with the older campaigners was the lone two-year-old, and who would not reach three until that January. Asked why he had brought but one youngster with the strong unit, Jones replied: "This horse will be my Derby candidate and he will be right there or thereabouts on May 6." Pensive came through in smart style, closed fast after being outrun early and provided Calumet with its second Derby, Jones with his third. After achieving top honors in the Preakness, Pensive was defeated in the Belmont Stakes and then was sent to the Wright farm to take his place with several of the nations finest sires. Calumets Pot o Luck finished second to Hoop Jr. in the 1945 Derby, run over a muddy track. Dick Thompsons record stands with Behave Yourself, Bubbling Over, Burgoo King and Brokers Tip, triumphing in the famous green and white silks of the late Edward R. Bradley, master of Idle Hour Stock Farm. "Im trying them again," were the words of Ben Jones as he emerged from the entry box naming Faultless into the race for a try that may equal the Thompson record. Jones doesnt know if Faultless will win, but he does know he has a good horse, and one that is trained to perfection. Faultless came up to his Derby engagement ready, and if his victories in the Flamingo Stakes at Hialeah and Blue Grass Stakes at the recent Keeneland meeting may be taken as a criterion, plus the fine saddle work of Douglas Dodson, then Faultless is the horse to beat.
