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■*MI V REFLECTIONS *y NBLS0N °unstan NEW YORK, N. Y.. May 5.— Thai never-say-die organization, "knock down the favorite club,* still insists that the Diamond Jubilee running of the Kentucky Derby is still a wide-open race, and that they have four or five candidates who are likely to defeat the favorite, Olympia. When you try to pin these folks down, it resolve itself into the fact that they do not believe the Hooper colt can carry his speed over one and one-quarter miles, and that in the last furlong some one of his opponents will take the lead from him. When you ask "which opponent." you get quite a wide variety of answers and, as we listened, we could not help but think that some of their candidates may find just as much difficulty at the Derby distance as they seem to think that the Hooper colt will. There is no doubt in this writers mind that Palestinian can carry his speed over a distance of ground and that he can run over any kind of a track. "Old Rock-port is another who is not likely to shorten his stride in the last furlong but, as we see it now, with the exception of his one defeat in the Santa Anita Derby, Olympia has done everything that has been asked of him this year and, to our way of thinking, he will continue to do so Saturday afternoon at Churchill Downs. AAA Should there be an upset in the Derby Saturday, which one would you select as the horse who will be returned the winner? Our own selection in this department would be Johns Joy, a colt that not much has been said about in the controversy of recent weeks. Last fall, you recall, Olympia defeated Johns Joy in the Breeders Futurity at Keeneland and, from that day to this, Monte Parke has maintained that the Kinard colt should have been returned the winner. Monte Parke is a brother of ""Ivan, and there is. naturally, a great deal of good-natured rivalry between them. While some people seem to be of the opinion that Olympia has had more than his share of racing to date this year, Johns Joy went to the post only once at Keeneland, and comes up to the Derby as a fresh horse. They say this Kinard colt who, like many of the Many Fans Insist Derby Wide Open Race Olympia Certain to Be Short-Priced Choice Ivan Parke Tells Why He Sold Olympia Belmont, Pimlico Both Open Meets Today other horses in his stable, has the prefix of "John," is very fit. But, while we do not personally look for an upset, we would be inclined to pick this Bull Dog — My Auntie colt, if we had to name one, to bring the same surprise that Gallahadion did in 1940 when he won from Bimelech. AAA Ivan Parke, one of the best jockeys of the century, and now the trainer of Olympia, will often give very direct answers when asked questions. As you know, Parke was the breeder of Olympia and sold that colt to his employer, F. W. Hooper, when a weanling. To our knowledge, the price has never been divulged. When Parke was asked the question, "Why did you sell the colt," he grinned and answered, "How the Devil did I know he was going to grow up to be Olympia?" Right there we hit upon the crux of the gamble that goes with buying a weanling or a yearling. Wizened old trainers who are wise in the ways of pedigree and conformation can often select youngsters they expected to be champions, only to have them prove duds when they arrive on the race course. We daresay that Parke takes just as much pride as other breeders in sending forth a horse who proves to be one of the best of his years. In saying that, we are reminded of the veteran, Tom Piatt, master of Brookdale Farm, who sold Alsab for 00 and then spent something like ,000 in railroad fare and hotel bills to see his colt win a fortune for another man. The case of Olympia is a little different for, as the trainer, Parke does share in the earnings of the colt he bred. AAA Two of the most important eastern meetings of the spring and summer will get under way tomorrow when Belmont swings open its gates for 32 days of sport and Pimlico has the shortest meeting of the season, operat ing for just eight days. Tomorrows Toboggan Handicap at Belmont will usher in a long list of important stakes, including the Metropolitan Handicap, the Coaching Club American Oaks, the Suburban Handicap, the Top Flight Handicap and, on June 11, the Belmont Stakes, third and last event of the "Triple Crown." It is unfortunate that such champions as Citation and Blue Peter will not be seen at the famous Elmont course, and there is some doubt at this writing as to whether Coaltown will meet his engagement in the Metropolitan, the Suburban or Roseben, for which he is eligible. The weights for the Metropolitan will be released by John B. Campbell on Monday, and they will be the deciding factor as to whether the Calumet speedster goes to the post in this one-mile event, which will be run on May 14. Beyond these horses, practically every "name horse" in the East will be seen in action at Belmont, and this writer looks for the Elmont track to have the same success in attendance and mutuel play that was the case at Jamaica. AAA As in past years, the Pimlico meeting will be on a "stake-a-day" basis. On the week-end, they will stage the 5,000 Dixie Handicap for three-year-olds and older horses at a mile and three-sixteenths. Coaltown was assigned 136 pounds as top weight of the field but, as he is not expected to start, the race should be a fairly open one. The ,500 Survivor Stakes will be run on Monday, the Baltimore Spring Handicap on Tuesday, the Spring Maiden Steeplechase on Wednesday, and then, on Thursday, which will be "Virginia Day." the feature will be the Pimlico Breeders Stakes, for which the Virginia Horsemens Association will donate a piece of plate to the winner. Fridays feature race will be the Pimlico Oaks, and then, on Saturday, the day of the Metropolitan in New York, the 5,000 Preakness, second leg of the "Triple Crown," will be run at one mile and three-sixteenths. With but one or two exceptions, every horse in the Derby is a Preakness eligible, and the interest naturally continues in that the Kentucky Derby winner obtains a second opportunity for a possible filial listing among the "Triple Crown" winners.
