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rrr -r REFLECTIONS by nelson dunstan NEW YORK, N. Y., May 19.— Until a better one comes along, Faultless has a distinct edge over his rivals as a claimant to the three-year-old championship. Starting on January 31 at Hialeah, the Bull Lea colt from the Calumet Farm has won eight out of his 11 starts and been out of the money but once. This exception was at Keeneland on April 10 when he hooked up with older horses in the Phoenix and finished eighth in an 11 -horse race after being crowded. He is not an eligible for the Peter Pan Handicap, which will be run at Belmont on the week-end. A week ago, the Jones boys were undecided as to whether they would start Faultless in the mile and a half Belmont Stakes on May 31, but now it appears likely the colt will go to the post. His main foe undoubtedly will be Phalanx, who beat him a neck for second money in the Kentucky Derby. After the Belmont, Calumets ace will be shipped to Chicago, where he will have many rich opportunities, including the Arlington Classic and the American Derby. Both stakes are at one mile and a quarter and have 0,000 in added money. AAA Since the season opened, there has been considerable speculation as to whether or not Stymie, Assault or Armed would top Whirlaways money-winning record of 61,161. After Faultless won the Withers on Saturday, we began wondering whether the Calumet horse, who has earned 02,730 so far this season, might not create an all-time record for the amount of money won by one horse in one season. For quite a few years, Gallant Fox held this record with earnings f 08,275. Last year, Assault created the new mark of 24,195. As is often the case with all new records, it was said that Assaults mark might stand for many, many years. But, right now, Faultless chances appear very bright to create a new one. Up to the running of the Withers last year, Assault had Faultless Best in Three-Year-Old Division May Top Assaults 24,195 Record of 46 Royal Bloods Defeat Distinct Upset Settles Question of Derby Saliva Test won 23,620, just 0,890 more than has been won by the Calumet three-year-old. Although Assault went on to win the Belmont and the Dwyer, he was retarded by some mysterious ailment before, or during, the running of the Arlington Classic. He was defeated in six straight races, then came back in the fall to win the Pimlico Special and Westchester Handicap. AAA The biggest upset of the week-end came in the running of the Juvenile Stakes when Ben Whitakers My Request defeated the 0,000 Maine Chance Farm youngster, Royal Blood. My Request was a two-length winner and was clearly entitled to the honors over Royal Blood who, though quick to begin, was lugging toward the rail through the final furlong. It was in this same race that First Flight met her only setback of the 1946 season, being defeated by Eternal War. Royal Blood may still go on to be one of the best two-year-olds of the present season, but a better estimate of his ability will probably be gleaned when he hooks up with My Request once again in the 0,000 National Stallion Stakes, which will be a secondary feature to the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, May 31. AAA For the past few years, there has been considerable confusion as to whether or not a saliva test is taken of the horses that compete in the Kentucky Derby. On the night of this years Derby, quite a throng of turf fans were on a train coming up from Louisville and, once again, that question cropped up. Everyone on that train seemed to be of the opinion that no such test was taken, but the thought struck us that, should this be untrue, It was hardly fair to the Churchill Downs officials, or again, to the owners and trainers of Derby starters. So, we put the question up to Leslie Combs II., chairman of the Kentucky State Racing Commission, and he answered: "Prior to the appointment of the present members of the Kentucky Racing Commission, a saliva test of Derby starters was a hit or miss proposition. Sometimes, they would take a saliva test, and at other times, they would not. But since I was appointed, along with other members of the commission, a test has been taken every year. In fact, at the 1947 running, we not only ordered a saliva test but also a urine test. The reports came back to us that everything was as it should be." We are very glad to publish this paragraph, for such erroneous reports could create unwarranted suspicion. AAA Over the week-end, it was announced that Seabiscuit, the great son of Hard Tack — Swing On, by Whisk Broom II., had died of natural causes. He was only 14 years old, so it must be that the great heart of a thoroughbred who ran on 89 different occasions had simply petered out. There are some races that will live in the record books for many years to come, and certainly one of these will be the Pimlico Special of 1938 when Seabiscuit, ridden by the late George Woolf , defeated his only opponent, War Admiral. In his last four years of competition, that is, from 1937 to 1940, Seabiscuit was out of the money on but two occasions, a record that can be attributed to very few horses in this country. He was a "Cinderella" horse in every sense of the word but, as the years went by, that was forgotten as he fought his way to that very limited circle of American racers who could truly be called "great." His owner, Charles S. Howard, could have placed him in stud in Kentucky at one of the highest stud fees ever asked for a stallion, but he preferred to have the horse he loved at his own farm in California.
