Olympia Easily Takes Derby Trial; Halt, Johns Joy in Extended Moves: Toys With Foes to Solidify Favorite Role for Big Race; Hooper Colt Sets Fast Pace Throughout; Ponder Second And Capot Finishes Third, Daily Racing Form, 1949-05-04

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Olympia Olympia Easily Easily Takes Takes Derby Derby Trial; Trial; Halt, Halt, Johns Johns Joy Joy in in Extended Extended Moves Moves Toys With Foes to Solidify Favorite Role for Big Race Hooper Colt Sets Fast Pace Throughout; Ponder Second And Capot Finishes Third CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 3. — Breaking track records en route, Olympia clinched the post of favoritism in the "Run for the Roses," when he won this afternoons mile Derby Trial with jockey Eddie Arcaro looking back and easing him to a virtual canter. The brilliant son of Heliopolis was a bit more than a length in front of Calumets surprising Ponder as he sauntered past the finish. Some five lengths farther back the Greentree Stables Capot was third, well in advance of Ocean Drive, who was fourth in a field of seven. Fred Hoopers colt showed 1 to 5 on the "tote" board and performed like that sort of choice, killing off Petey Cotter moving down the backstretch and winning in 1:37% with speed in reserve. He had romped past the half in :45% and six furlongs in 1:10%, time split seconds better than the track marks. Of course, the track was about as fast as the Downs surface ever gets to be. By virtue of his showy performance, Olympia added a net of ,000 to his earlier winnings. Those who backed the Hooper entry were returned .60 for , in a race in which there was no show betting. Minus Place Pool The Derby Trial was presented in summer like weather and the promise of a sharp contest attracted a throng of more than 15,000 to the ancient Central Avenue course. When it came to the piece de resistance there was no question of the form students preference, and it wouldnt be surprising if the Hooper colts again are odds-on chances in Saturdays diamond jubilee Derby. The place pool today was minus ,550. The only one of the field that worked out after the finish was Capot, who was timed the mile and a furlong in 1:54%, going handily around the clubhouse turn. Olympia pulled up kicking and playing on the way back to the winners ring. There was no serious challenge for him today, as in the recent Wood, Arcaro brought him out of the gate alertly and he was zooming along about a half a length before Petey Cotter, measuring this adversary coming out of the chute and entering the back-stretch. Sandwiched between them about a half length back was Capot. Atkinson did not punissh his mount in an effort to wrest the lead from Olympia, and he fell out of it near the end of the backstetch. At about the same time Petey Cotter jumped up on a treadmill and Olympia began to move off. There was never a semblance of competition after that, and the muscular bay won on the chin strap. Ponder was a straggler early but began to pick up limber horses curving for home and finished with a steady surge under Glissons hand riding. Incidentally, he got eight pounds from the winner. Off the evidence of their recent engagements, Ponder is the better stayer of Calumets Derby candidates. Ocean Drive ran one of his better races this afternoon and was pegging Olympia, Petey Cotter and Capot closest as they raced abreast down the backstretch. Basil James saved all the ground on him curving for home but he was receding through the home lane,


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1940s/drf1949050401/drf1949050401_1_7
Local Identifier: drf1949050401_1_7
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800