Coaltown Wins Gallant Fox in Romp; Ocean Drive Joins Derby Probables: Has Seven Lengths On Vulcans Forge; Brooks Sits Still as Victor Carries 130 Pounds to Fore; Nears Jamaica Track Mark, Daily Racing Form, 1949-05-02

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Coaltown Coaltown Wins Wins Gallant Gallant Fox Fox in in Romp; Romp; Ocean Ocean Drive Drive Joins Joins Derby Derby Probables Probables Has Seven Lengths On Vulcans Forge Brooks Sits Still as Victor Carries 130 Pounds to Fore; Nears Jamaica Track Mark JAMAICA, L. I., N. Y., April 30.— Calumet Farms Coaltown did the expected in his usual majestic style at Jamaica today, taking the lead in the 0,000 added Gallant Fox Handicap when he pleased and drawing away from a furiously driving field with the greatest of ease to reach the wire seven lengths before I. J. Collins Vulcans Forge. Mrs. E. L. Hopkins Three Rings was two lengths away after setting the pace to the far turn, while W. L. Branns Escadru was another length out of the money and a head before King Ranchs But Why Not, and Better Self completed the field. With Steve Brooks sitting still after he rounded the clubhouse turn, Coaltown stepped the mile and three -sixteenths in 1:56 y5, one second slower than the track mark set by Lucky Draw under 105 pounds in 1946, and a second faster than Faultless required in this stake last year, dockers of Daily Racing Form caught Coaltown in l:554/5. The son of Bull Lea — Easy Lass returned an overlay of .50 and .20. While Coaltown set no official records today, his time for the mile and a furlong was 1:49%, which is a fifth faster than the track mark for that distance held jointly by Mad Play, First Fiddle and Stymie, all of whom carried less than the 130 pounds packed by the Calumet colt as he continued his unbeaten campaign today. The Jamaica strip was probably about one second faster than it has been for most of the meeting, it was indicated by the times in the earlier races, but was not particularly speed conducive, compared with Hia-leah and Gulfstream Parks, where Coaltown equaled worlds records for a mile and a furlong, and a mile and a quarter during the winter. Dixie Next Objective Trainer Jimmy Jones said that Coaltown would be sent back to Maryland on Monday to race in the Dixie Handicap next Saturday, then would return to Belmont Park, where he has engagements in the Metropolitan and Suburban Handicaps. A crowd of 42,904, the third largest of the meeting, turned out in pleasantly mild weather that became chilly as the afternoon wore on. The paddock and clubhouse box section were lesy filled than last Saturday, many notables having already left for Kentucky. The fractions for the race were :22V5, :47%, 1:11%, at which point Coaltown Continued on Page Three Coaltown Just Romps To Gallant Fox Score Leads Vulcans Forge to Finish By Seven Under 130-Pound Impost Continued from Page One took command; 1:36% for the mile, and 1:49% for the mile and a furlong. A few minutes after the running of the Gallant Fox, racing secretary-handicapper John B. Campbell gave some indication of what he thought of Coaltowns race by assigning him 140 pounds in next Fridays Toboggan Handicap at six furlongs, with My Request next in line at 129. While the Calumet colt would undoubtedly be less severely burdened in a longer race, these imposts are something for the Calumet entourage to ponder, as they have long maintained 130 pounds is the maximum any horse should be asked to carry a distance of ground. Coaltown ran his winning streak to seven straight since he began the season on February 5 at Hialeah and added 8,600 to earlier earnings of 93,200. Doug Dodson hustled Three Rings to the front as the field left the starting gate at the head of the stretch, with But Why Not in second place on the rail, while Coaltown was third with Brooks scrubbing mildly to get position. When they rounded the clubhouse turn, Three Rings was leading by a length, with Coaltown running smoothly in second place a length before But Why Not. Vulcans Forge was several lengths farther back, followed by Escadru and Better Self. Three Rings continued to lead in the run down the far side, but Brooks let out a notch nearing the far turn and Coaltown moved up beside the pacemaker, racing head and head with him from the nine-sixteenths to the half-mile pole, where he drew away to a daylight lead. At the same time, Vulcans Forge gave a transient thrill to his followers by moving up strongly on the outside and quickly catching Three Rings. Coaltown sped around the turn to the stretch, racing a few feet out from the rail and adding to his lead with every stride. Brooks sat still, but stole a quick look under his right arm as Coaltown straightened away for the run to the wire and the jockey promptly shortened his hold. The big bay drew steadily away from his rivals, while Arcaro stung Vulcans Forge with his whip and the Mahmoud colt responded gamely, but continued to lose ground.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1940s/drf1949050201/drf1949050201_1_6
Local Identifier: drf1949050201_1_6
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800