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Three-Year-Old Fillies in Limelight Oaks Tomorrows Belmont Feature But Why Not Looms Strong Choice for 0,000 Event; First Flight Held Doubtful BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y„ May 17. — Three stakes to be run over the flat and a steeplechase fixture adorn the coming weeks programs at Belmont Park. The nations leading three-year-old fillies will vie in the thirty-first running of the 0,Q00 Coaching Club American Oaks on Tuesday, the leading sprinters of the East will meet in the 5,000 Roseben Handicap at six furlongs on Wednesday and some of the better three-year-olds will clash in the 5,000 Peter Pan on the week-end. The steeplechase fixture is the 0,000 Corinthian Handicap which will have its forty-second running on Thursday. The high point of the week comes early with the running of the Oaks on Tuesday. This test at a mile and three furlongs is the filly Derby and has been won by such memorable lassies as Wistful, Cleopatra, Flam-bette, Princess Doreen, Edith Cavell, Nimba, Bateau, Top Flight, Black Helen, High Fleet, Vagrancy and Twilight Tear. Belair Studs Hypnotic won last years edition. King Ranchs But Why Not, winner of the Pimlico Oaks and Acorn Stakes in her last two starts, and easy victress in an overnight race at Jamaica in her only other effort of the year, looms an odds-on choice in this classic. The race was also expected to be the occasion for the seasonal debut of C. V. Whitneys First Flight, champion juvenile of both sexes last year, but the way in which she finished her mile and a sixteenth publia trial yesterday makes her a doubtful quantity. Small Field in Prospect But Why Nots brilliant form and the dubious quality of the other eligibles point to a small field for this edition of the Oaks which has not drawn more than six starters since 1941, when only two went postward to oppose Crispin Oglebays Level Best. It is quite possible than only John J. Watts Harmonica, who finished second in the Acorn, and Walter M. Jeffords Snow Goose will parade to the post with the Kleberg filly this year. Snow Goose won her last start here and has been training well for this engagement. A much bigger field is in prospect for the Roseben, which is headed by Elmen-dorf Farms Polynesian at 132 pounds. This specialist of the Widener course won the race last year with 126 and suffered his only defeat on the straight course in the Toboggan Handicap on opening day, when he finished third behind Buzfuz and De-gage. The former has gone to California, but Degage may be back when in with only a two-pound shift against him for a half-length. R. A. Firestones sprinter has improved immensely in recent months. Other Roseben possibilities are Deering Howes True North, who holds the track record of 1:08 Ms, but stopped to a walk in the Toboggan, Joe W. Browns King Dor-sett, Norman W. Churchs Quick Reward, C. T. Chenerys Hornbeam, Shamrock Stables Air Patrol, Browns Brown Mogul, Jaclyn Stables Inroc, and possibly a few others. Most of the probables mentioned finished behind Degage and Polynesian in the Toboggan, but True North and Quick Reward are expected to improve. The field for the Peter Pan depends both on racing secretary John Campbells weight and the outcome of todays Withers and will not begin to take shape until mid-week. Mondays feature offering is a six-furlong dash on the main course styled the Race King in honor of the thoroughbred who had the distinction of holding Sysonby to a dead heat in the Metropolitan Handicap of 1905, the year Belmont Park opened its gates. This ,500 test for class B horses has drawn a field of nine, headed by Speeding Home, who will carry 120 pounds, Basil James, and the hopes of the majority of the patrons. Louis Rabinowitz red roan gelding won his last start here from wire to wire.
