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Fourteen Preakness Candidates Listed J Max Hirsch States King Ranch Will Have Starter in Contest Colt Works Out Well With t Assault; Cosmic Bomb and Secnav Also Seen in Trials PIMLICO, Baltimore, Md., May 7. — The J surprise entry this morning of King 1 Ranchs Contest, an obscure colt who was i untried as a two-year-old and who has , won one of two starts this season, and ! satisfactory trials by two other candidates, 1 were the principal Preakness developments I at this historic Baltimore course today. Contest was definitely revealed as a candidate for Saturdays 00,000 classic I by trainer Mas Hirsch. The Kentucky-bred I son of Sir Gallahad II. — Skeet, arrived I at Pimlico last Monday with Assault, I slated to go postward in Fridays Dixie, I but until Hirsch made his surprise announcement I today, Contest had been completely ignored as a Preakness probable. Bred by Arthur B. Hancock, Contest revealed nice speed in graduating from the maiden ranks in his first start and he was a creditable second to Flying Fortress in the Red River Purse last Saturday at Jamaica. Contests only races to date have been over a distance of ground which rather indicates trainer Hirsch feels he has staying qualities. Contests inclusion in the Preakness field increases to 14 the number of three-year-olds remaining as probable starters in the one mile and three-sixteenths event. The field, as it now stands, comprises Jet Pilot, the Derby winner; Phalanx, Cosmic Bomb, Bullet Proof, King Bay, On Trust, Risko-later, Faultless, Double Jay, Uncle Remus, Mityme, Secnav, Cornish Knight and Contest. Four Colts Eliminated From Field As was anticipated, yesterdays one mile and a sixteenth Survivor Stakes served to eliminate from the Preakness field four three-year-olds who had held only outside chances at best. Counted out as a result of their performances in the Survivor were Greentree Stables Wide Wing and Tailspin; Mrs. Samuel Pistorios Golden Bull and Sylvester W. Labrot, Jr.s, Re-pand. Greentree is now without a representative in the Preakness for yesterday trainer John Gaver had announced that Blue Border, the stables leading Preakness candidate, would not go because poor weather had retarded his preparation for the race. Although Cedar Farms Mityme turned a good, game effort to capture the Survivor, he still remained a doubtful starter this morning. Prior to yesterdays race, trainer Charles Shaw had declared Mityme would start on Saturday if he turned in a creditable performance and surely his race yesterday left little to be desired. Shaw said this morning, however, that he has not made up his mind as yet. Also remaining in the doubtful category are: Mr. and Mrs. Walter M. Jeffords Uncle Remus, and Mill River Stables Secnav. Uncle Remus was an early scratch , from yesterdays Survivor, prompting the [ thought that trainer Oscar White was reserving the colt for the week-end race. White said this morning, however, that J Uncle Remus will start in the Preakness only at the specific request of Mr. and Mrs. . Jeffords. As has been previously an-. nounced, Secnav will start only if the track is fast. i Breezes With Triple Crown Winner Besides Contest, who breezed one mile ! this morning in company with Assault, last years "Triple Crown" winner and "Horse . of the Year" for 1946, two other Preakness candidates were on the training track. , Contest and Assault breezed a mile in ; 1:45 Vs. the two remaining in company the entire trip. It was shortly after Contests J trial that trainer Hirsch informed Mary-j land Jockey Club officials the colt would be King Ranchs colorbearer in the Preakness. , Under the supervision of trainer Willie J Booth, William Helis handsome bay colt, | Cosmic Bomb, worked a mile with Shelby Clark, who rode him in the Derby and who will have the mount in the Preakness, in the irons. Revealing fine action, Cosmic " [ Bomb completed the eight panels in 1:45. handily, after going the half-mile in :512/5, and three-quarters in 1:17%. Secnav was given a less ambitious trial, : the Mill River colt going an easy half-mile in :51%, breezing. Jet Pilot, who carried Mrs. Elizabeth i Grahams Maine Chance Farm silks to a I sensational victory in last Saturdays Derby, again was on the track, but merely galloped once around the oval. Trainer Tom Smith said his stout-hearted little colt may be given a stiff trial tomorrow. Phalanx, who carried the silks of C. V. , Whitney into second place in the Derby, , also is due for a trial tomorrow. Trainer s Syl Veitch, who arrived at Pimlico this i morning from New York, said Phalanx - would be worked about five-eighths of a mile.
