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■■ -"3 REFLECTIONS By NELSON DUNSTAN NEW YORK, N. Y., May 8.— With the Preakness running less than 48 hours away, the controversy still continues as to whether the Maine Chance Farms colorbearer, Jet Pilot, will run as well on a fast track as he will in the off-going, or whether he will find Phalanx and Faultless his superiors this week-end. Eddie Arcaro, who was certain of victory on Phalanx prior to the Derby, now has a wholesome respect for Jet Pilot, and frankly states that the son of Pilate, who ran second at Louisville, will have a job on his hands in defeating the Derby winner Saturday. All of which adds interest to the Preakness running and, with a fine field answering the bugle, we look for one of the most colorful renewals in Preakness history. John B. Campbell, veteran handicapper on the New York tracks, still has faith in Cosmic Bomb and it could be that this early Derby favorite, who finished fifth, will show a far better effort in the Preakness than he did in the Derby. It should be a fine contest from start to finish and we are among those who look for Phalanx and Faultless to turn the tables on Jet Pilot, providing, of course, the race is run over a fast track. AAA On Tuesday, Belmont fans may have witnessed in Royal Blood, a youngster who is going to break the jinx that seems to attend yearlings who cost 0,000 or more. In the fourth race of that day, 20 two-year-olds went to the post and among them was some of the highest-priced babes of the 1946 season. At the finish, Royal Blood, a chestnut colt by Coldstream— Spotted Beauty, by Man o War, and who cost the Maine Chance Farm of Mrs. Elizabeth Graham an even 0,000, ran to justify his price in taking the race by five lengths from Quickset, the latter being a bay colt by Challedon, for which Russell A. Firestone paid 5,000. When we were in Kentucky prior to the sales last year, Charles Kenney, manager of Coldstream Stud, had Royal Blood led forth Controversy Over Jet Pilot Still Rages Royal Blood May Justify Purchase Price International Races Very Hard to Arrange Blue Larkspurs Death Loss to Breed from the barn and, at that time, said, "Mark your program on this one — he is going to be a real horse." The first time we saw Royal Blood was in California, when he ran second to King Rhymer, and that was the day, you may recall, when the son of The Rhymer created a new worlds record of 32 seconds for three .furlongs. AAA The feature event on Tuesday was the Fashion Stakes, for juvenile fillies, and with three of them heads apart at the finish, it was the most exciting race to date at the Elmont course. The winner, by a head, was Caltha, a homebred filly by Gahram out of Marsh Marigold, by Sir Gallahad III., and from the North Wales Stud of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. The Chrysler youngster scored over Mrs. M. Jolleys Picnic Lunch, and, in third place was Mrs. Henry C. Phipps Grey Flight. As a yearling, Grey Flight cost 5,000, and while she is still a maiden, she gives every indication of being a winner in the near future. Down through the years, there have been quite a few colts and fillies who cost their owners large sums of money, but Grey Flight — like Royal Blood and Quickset — appears to be one who is going to justify the price paid for her. It is known that Walter P. Chrysler refused a staggering sum for Caltha last fall. AAA Many New York fans were disappointed when it was announced that the 00,000 Empire Gold Cup would be run at the summer meeting, rather than the fall. For two years, racing fans have been constantly reminded that aviation was going to create a new era in horse racing and that international matches were just around the corner. Apparently, it is not going to prove as easy as that, for while starting gates would be eliminated in the event that foreign horses were started, there is the matter of track soils to contend with. The Empire Gold Cup, as it now stands, is open to any horse or mare from anywhere in the world. In the mind of racing fans, an international contest is one where horses who have competed successfully in their own country, will come together for a race that has both color and international flavor. Under the new conditions of the Empire City contest, this can hardly hold true, for those in Europe who hoped to have their horses compete in the important fall contest on the other side, will hardly take a chance of shipping over here and then shipping back again. The ideal international contest is one where horses will come here in the fall to compete in two contests, one on the main track and also one on a grass track. AAA The American breeding industry suffered a blow when Blue Larkspur died a few days ago from heart failure. This son of Black Servant — Blossom Time, by North Star m., is often said to have been the best horse ever bred at the Idle Hour Farm of the late Col. E. R. Bradley. He was a fine race horse, winning the Juvenile, National Stallion, Saratoga Special, Belmont, Classic, Withers, Arlington Cup, Stars and Stripes and other events, but it was not until he went to stud that he rose to the heights that were to proclaim him one of the best horses of his years. In stud he was sire of the stake winners — Sky Larking, Best Seller, Ocean Blue, Myrtlewood, Blue Swords, Blue Delight, and many others. He will live in history mainly through his daughters, for he was sire of the dams of Twilight Tear, By Jimminy, Devils Thumb, Miss Dogwood, War Jeep, Bless Me, Okana, and others. Blue Larkspur created something of a record when, in 1945, six of his yearlings brought a total of 08,500, for an average of 4,750. In 1946, eight of his yearlings totaled 67,000, for an average of 0,875.
