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! " __ REFLECTIONS by nelson dunstan NEW YORK, N. Y., May 5.— Coming up on the train, there were the usual aftermaths of opinion on the result of the Kentucky Derby. One thing that struck us f orcib y was that the owners of four of the first five to finish on top were people who have done much for the good of the American turf and, in saying that we refer specifically to the -laine Chance Farm of Mrs. Elizabeth Graham, owner of Jet Pilot, C. V. Whitney who, in partnership with A. S. Hewitt, is the owner of Phalanx, who finished second, the Calumet Farm of Warren Wright, whose Faultless was only beaten a head for second honors, and William G. Helis, whose Cosmic Bomb was fifth. In saying that, we do not take one iota of credit from E. O. Stice and Sons, whose fine California-bred, On Trust, finished fourth — nor again, the Dixiana Farm, Mrs. M. E. Whitney, nor the W-L Ranch, whose horses ran sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively. In fact, was there ever a more representative Derby — for the Brookmeade Stable of Mrs. Dodge Sloane owned Liberty Road, who finished tenth, and Riskolater, owned by Circle M Ranch, was eleventh. Just imagine what the owners we have mentioned here have meant to the progress of the American turf. AAA With 00,000 in added money, and the glory that goes with winning the Blue Grass classic, the Kentucky Derby may well be described as an end unto itself. Yet, from another angle, it is but the first race of the "Triple Crown." Winning by a head, Jet Pilot was by no means the standout winner over Phalanx and the others that Count Fleet and still other Derby winners were over the fields in their respective years. Back in 1939, Johnstown was a Kentucky Derby winner over Challe-don. But when the Kentucky Derby group of the same year lined up in the Preakness, Challedon was an easy winner with Johnstown out of the money. It is last our opinion, and we are not taking one iota of credit from Jet Pilot in saying this, that in an- Racing Bulwarks Owned Derby Horses Preakness Will Present New Picture Do Not Discount Helis Cosmic Bomb Dixie Handicap Should Be Fine Race other meeting both Phalanx and Faultless will show the way to Jet Pilot, who was at his best or what was described as an "off" track. We also believe that Cosmic Bomb, the early winter book favorite, and who closed at over 31 to 1 in the Derby, will be a far better horse than he was last Saturday. We doubt very much if this is going to be a year when there will be another addition to the list of "Triple Crown" winners. AAA On Saturday, spectators at Churchill Downs naturally put the Kentucky Derby result foremost, but there were ever so many who were interested in the outcome of the Grey Lag Handicap in New York. Assault, the three-year-old champion of 1946, must have given a thrilling exhibition to win by a neck from Lets dance, and the latter a neck in front of Coincidence, with Stymie two lengths behind the latter to finish fourth. Assault, now a four-year-old, carried 128 pounds to defeat his older rivals, who were more lightly weighted. If anything, that adds interest to the 0,000 Dixie Handicap, wnich will be run at Pimlico next Friday. In this traditional event, Basileus II. is assigned 126; Stymie, 124, and Coincidence, 119. As Assault has shipped to Pimlico, it is almost certain that will be a starter in the rich Pimlico race, and there is just a question if he will not climb higher on the ladder whose top rung is Whirl-aways throne of 61,161. When he won the Grey Lag on the week-end, Assault climbed to within ,005 of Armed, who is third behind Stymie at the moment in the quest for the money-winning honors. AAA Saturdays feature at Belmont Park will be the 5,000 Metropolitan Handicap at one mile. Several of the Dixie eligibles, including Assault and Coincidence, have been nominated for the "Met" and those who compete in Maryland will have to pass up the Belmont stake. It is next to impossible for the Dixie starters to reach New York and race the following day at Belmont. But there is no doubt that the majority of fhem will be back in New York to compete in the 0,000 Suburban Handicap, which will be run at a mile and a quarter at Belmont Park, on Friday, May 30. Among the eligibles are Assault, Armed, Lets Dance, Polynesian, Lucky Draw, Basileus II., Stymie, Coincidence and many others of those regarded as lesser lights in the handicap division. It is never safe to say th°t a champion is to be toppled from his money-winning throne, but with Assault and Stymie now having dead aim on Whirlaways record, and Armed still to come along, we feel certain that before the year is out, one of this trio is sure to pass the mark of Whirlaway. AAA Recently, the response to the Damon Runyon Fund has been magnificent. While in Kentucky, we received a check from Colonel Matt Winn for ,000 and Henry H. Knight, of Almahurst Farm, donated 00. Kentucky breeders have been very generous in their contributions. We announced that Irs. Peter A. B. Widener was mulling over the idea of donating a service to her crack racer, Polynesian, who will be retired some time this season. On our return from Louisville, we found a letter from a Mackay Smith, executive director of the Virginia Horsemens Association, stating that they were working on the idea of a yearling to be sold at the Saratoga Sales for the benefit of the Runyon Fund. There is also a letter from one of Americas foremost breeders who, while requesting that his name be withheld, stated that he was willing to offer one of the finest mares in America today and who is in foal to a famous stallion, providing we believe that she would bring enough to warrant the sale. Although we have taken in 5,000, and hoped to build the fund to 5,000 within the next few months, it could be that these donations will reach the sum of 0,000 before the sales are over this year.
