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k1 Handi * j JUDGES STAND *y charles hatton CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 3. — One can never be quite sure where the Derby horses are coming from, though its fun guessing. For instance, there is Palestinian. It seems that he has been a little of everything, including a selling plater with rather second-hand legs. "Thafs why I ran him cheaply last season," Hirsch Jacobs explained as we were watching the colt graze. "You know they have vets to check horses for soundness coming to the paddock in New York. They used to examine Palestinian pretty critically, but his legs and his form improved as I raced him. Hes fit now to run from here to China." Palestinian is from a mare called Dolly Whisk that also seems to have experienced her share of ups and downs. "She won the Debutante Stakes here in 1938, in her first start, I think," Jacobs recalls. "Later on, she bowed and I bought her for ,000, patched her up and raced her some more. She is out of old Dolly Seth, a mare that Ben Jones used to race. I am breeding her to Stymie this season." Palestinians progress from rags to riches reminds us that Old Rock-port is another with a story-book background. "He was to have been sold in the fall sales as a yearling," Tommy Taylor recalls, "but then was withdrawn and sent back to the farm. Unlike most horses, he was not broken as a yearling and never had on anything but a halter when he was shipped to South Carolina. But he learned quickly enough once he got started. I dont know whether running out two years had anything to do with it. but he has never been sick or even bucked his shins." AAA The open aspect of the Derby is most encouraging to Pimlico, Belmont, Arlington, Washington, Hollywood Park, Detroit and other clubs having important stakes for three-year-olds. There is no minus pool standout, * and they may provide sharp competition all season. Except for Halts absence from the Preakness, the leading Derby eligibles also are in the Pimlico stake and the Belmont, which round out the American "Triple Crown." Derby Horses From Unexpected Sources Kilroe Plans More Two-Year-Old Races All in Readiness at Detroit Course Maine Chance Juvenile Shows Promise The stars of the cast for the show Saturday will go on the road next week, but they will return to the Middle West for the Classic and the American Derby. Meanwhile there is a prospect that Mr. Busher, Blue Peter and Sport Page will recover their form. We take it from Jack Skir-vin, who trained Mr. Busher briefly, that theres nothing at all wrong with the colt that shorter rations and longer working hours wouldnt cure. Mention of the Classic and American Derby reminds us that Jimmy Kilroe, the popular new racing secretary at Arlington and Washington, will be here for the Derby on Saturday. Kilroe notes that the two-year-old filly stakes have many more nominees than in the past, and he plans to offer two races a day for this age division. We should think that this will please both the public and horsemen, for it is well known that two-year-olds are the most formful horses as an age group, and most of the larger stables have a preponderance of them. AAA Larry Bogenschutz notes that there are more horses-in-training in Kentucky than ever before, but he supposes that they will thin out a bit with the opening of Detroit on May 13 and Lincoln-at -Washington on May 16. Dale Shaffer tells us that there now are more than 200 horses at the Motor City course. The strip has received some attention, in the way of new topsoil, the "tote" equipment has been installed and, in short, "all is in readiness." The first condition books have made their appearance, and the overnighters have a ,500 minimum. Its no secret that the Michigan turf interests have had several brushes with the anti-racing element, and we think that racing men everywhere admire the new clubs forthright policy. The fact remains, apart from all the nonsense, that Michigan needs the sport quite as much as it needs Michigan. AAA The Bashford Manor on Derby Day is expected to bring together some of the same field that competed for* the Lafayette in the slop, including the winner Black Sambo. He was a ,000 yearling bargain for Sam Rosen. Another eligible who seems to have been rather well bought is Wisconsin Boy, who cost W. M. Peavey ,200 and was second to Black Sambo. We should hesitate to guess whether these will be around in the middle of the season, but it takes a lively sort of colt to win a Bashford Manor. Calumet, Greentree, C. V. Whitney. Maine Chance and other leading stables have two-year-olds of promise that have not started. Johnny Gaver may uncover Guillotine or Androcles at Belmont and Mrs. Graham has a smart Bull Lea filly this tourist saw at Aiken. She is called Evening Thrill and is a slashing bay of pretty much the same type as Citation. One hears she can outwork any of her male stablemates. These and many other highly bred colts and fillies will lend interest to the two-year-old races during the late spring and summer. On the whole, there seems to have been less coughing among them than in the last two seasons, which may afford a better line on them earlier. AAA Turf ana: The sensational apprentice Gordon Glisson is to ride at Arlington and Washington. . . . Papa Redbird is galloping over the Detroit strip. . . . Not only was the two-year-old Big Mistake bought as a case of mistaken identity. King Ranch bid up to some 0,000 on another colt it did not obtain, thinking he was Big Mistake. . . . The Pincher is a prospect for Arlington sprints. . . . Pep Well was to have been retired to stud in Canada, but his form delayed his departure. . . . There were 35 foals in Haltals first three crops, the oldest of them now five. All but seven started and won, five winning stakes. . . . Jack Skirvin will take up Evident, now rusticating at Ernst Farm, later in the season. . . . Seven of Challenge Mes first foals are colts.
