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" _ " .: REFLECTIONS By NELSON DUNSTAN CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 2. — As these lines are written, the Derby hopefuls are in their stalls awaiting tomorrows call that will bring them forth for the first of the "Triple Crown" events of this season. Phalanx and Faultless shape up as solid post time favorite, but we doubt if in years so many of the longer-priced starters will have their share of support from the huge throng on hand. There is an undercurrent of feeling here that this renewal will have a surprising climax, and this regardless of the fact that the majority favor Phalanx or Faultless. Ben Jones openly says Phalanx is the one to beat, but also has a wholesome respect for Star Reward, the Dixiana colt who gave Faultless such a surprising race in the Derby Trial. Jack Hodgins, trainer of Star Reward, has his own opinion and told us "Faultless is all they will have to beat." There is no more confident jockey in Louisville than Eddie Arcaro. Ordinarily. Arcaro is not so outspoken before an important race, but on this occasion he grimly stated "they will have my mount to beat." Californians are pinning their faith on On Trust, but it is surprising that many Easterners who always try to "knock down the favorites" are saying, "If there is an upset, do not be surprised if the Santa Anita Derby winner is the one to grace the winners circle." AAA Strangely enough, there are only two stallions who sired winners of previous renewals who have a chance of repeating this season and they are Sir Gallahad HI. and Blenheim H., both imported. In 1930 Sir Gallahad IH. scored with Gallant Fox, and 10 years later made it a double with Gallahaion, who caused an upset by winning from Bimelech. In 1945, Sir Gallahad HI. made it three with Hoop Jr., winner over Pot o Luck. This year the son of Teddy and one of the greatest stallions ever brought to these shores is represented by the Brookmeade Stables Liberty Road and he cannot oe counted out. Blenheim H. sent his first winner to the Derby in 1941 in the colorful Whirlaway, who, like Gallant Fox, went on to win the "Triple Crown. Tomorrow Derby Field Impatiently Awaiting Bugle Phalanx Will Be Post-Time Favorite Imported Sires Loom Strongly Again Too Early to Judge Three-Year-Old Crop Blenheim II. has a fair chance of scoring for the second time is he is represented by Jet Pilot, who is regarded as the truly "dark" horse of this renewal. Foreign sires have been prominent in recent years and will be again this year, Cosmic Bomb being by Pharamond II., Stepfather by Beau Pere, W L Sickle by Sickle, and Riskolater by Isolater. AAA Many horsemen seem to have formed an opinion that this years three-year-olds are below average. It is still too early to form solid opinions on this point, or again whether there is a standout colt such as Assault last year, that is, a standout until he suffered some physical trouble before or during the running of the Classic at Chicago. Crops above the average come few and far between. Back in 1931, racing had a group who made it a stirring season from start to finish — Twenty Grand winning the Derby: Mate beating Twenty Grand in the Preakness and then Twenty Grand returning to win the Belmont from Sun Meadow and Jamestown. Mate won the Classic, with Twenty Grand third, and then as the season waned, Twenty Grand triumphed over Sun Meadow in the Lawrence Realization. In 1942 there was another good crop, including Shut Out, Alsab, Valdina Orphan, Requested, Sun Again, Lochinvar With Regards, Vagrancy and still others. Beyond Assault, the 1946 crop was below par, but only tomorrows Derby and the important three-year-old races to follow will give a true line on the quality or lack of it, concerning this years group. AAA The Derby record of 2:01%, created by Whirlaway in 1941, seems safe. Prior to Whirlaways mark, Twenty Grand held the record of 2:01% for 10 years. Seldom do three-year-olds run one and one-quarter miles in such time, although older horses have been credited with faster efforts. Back in 1913 Whisk Broom n. created the American record of 2:00. But it has been disputed ever since, veterans claiming *hat the docker made a mistake and that the true time was anywhere from 2:02 to 2:04. In the Hollywood Gold Cup of 1945. Challenge Me ran the distance in 2:00%, and in 1946 Triplicate duplicated that time. They carried 108 and 113 pounds, respectively. With 120 pounds up, Sarazen, then a three-year-old, defeated Epinard in 2:00% and we believe this is the fastest one and one-quarter miles ever negotiated by a horse of that age in this country. Since Whirlaway established the Derby record, the time of the five successive winners has ranged from 2:04 to 2:07. Last year Assault was clocked in 2:06%, and the year before Hoop Jr. was timed in 2:07, the slowest Derby time in 17 years. Assault won on a slow track and Hoop Jr. over a muddy strip. AAA Although it was forecast that the weather would clear for Derby Day, there was a downpour of rain at noon today. At the time the track was a sea of mud and, while it may clear overhead, we doubt if the track will be *ast as the field parades to the post for the Derby running. Jet Pilot and 3ullet Proof will be helped by an "off" track, and while Phalanx would prefer fast going, a muddy strip would not hinder him. There is just no telling about Kentucky weather, but that has not stopped what will probably be one of the largest throngs of all time to be on hand. Today, the hotel clerks were just standing behind their desks with the stock answer, "Sorry, there is not a room to be had." This despite the fact that prices are even higher than they were prior to the war. Beyond that, everything is in readiness for a renewal that is as "wide open" as we can recall. We are still stringing along with Phalanx, but would not be surprised if one of a half-dozen others came down the stretch on the head end. There Is uncertainty in the very air and also when groups get together to discuss the one subject, "whos gonna win?"
