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JUDGES STAND Bv CHARLES HATT0N CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville. Ky., May 5. — Everyone likes a good filly race, we think, and the traditional Kentucky Oaks has one of its strongest fields in many years. Royce Martins entry of Lady Dorimar and Tall Weeds, and the Calumet Farms improving filly, Wistful, appear to be the contenders coming up to the race. Tall Weeds beat Wistful to a hole on the rail turning for home in the Ashland, and won the stakes right there. More recently Coaltowns half-sister came back and caught Lady Dorimar short in a mile Oaks prep race. The "Derby for Fillies" is at a mile and a sixteenth, which should resolve the form. By the way. the Woodvale fillies are going from here to Pimlico, for the Oaks there after this engagement, and Ben Jones may also send Wistful over East to "Mayor Jimmy." Trainer Woody Stephens seems to prefer Tall Weeds at the moment, but he notes that Lady Dorimar imoroved nine lengths in her last race and she is a very game filly with a slick way of moving. She is to be ridden by Conn McCreary, who won a Saratoga Cup on her dam, Dorimar, and a Blue Grass Stakes on her sire, Our Boots. Its doubtful if any three-year-old filly stake has a more imposing honor roll than has the Kentucky Oaks. Down through the years it has been won by Modesty, Audience, Waterblossom, Princess Doreen, Black Maria, Rose of Sharon, Alcibiades and Miss Dogwood. It is one of the races breeders like to win, for it is a bond of quality, and usually its winners do well in the stud. AAA Gordon Glisson is quite the most capable bug rider this tourist has seen this season, but he is by no means the only apprentice who is doing well here at the Downs. Apprentice Jerry West, who is a "hometown boy," has attracted some attention. Young Wests father is a local Derby for Fillies Promises Sharp Race J. West Making Good in Home Town New Prospects for Bashford Manor Armed Still Better Than Empty Stall barber. He gained his first experience in colors at Detroit Fair Grounds last summer. During the winter he was under lease to Harry Bensinger, a Louisville furniture dealer and sportsman, and rode at the New Orleans Fair Grounds. Indeed he was giving Harold Keene a tussle for leading riding honors there when he displeased the stewards and was set down 10 days. Bensinger since has purchased his contract from Jake Glenn. West now is 20 and was tipping the beam at less than 105 pounds this week, so that he seems unlikely to become too heavy too fast. One would think that Derby town would produce a good many more riders than it does, what with the "Run for the Roses" as an inspiration. But Eugene James and Charley Kurtsinger were among the few Louisville youths to make sports page headlines as jockeys in late years. AAA The Bashford Manor on Derby Day will be no place for a green or backward colt, to all present signs and portents. The Lafayette winner, Black Sambo, is a candidate, along with Old Tom, who shaded a minute for five furlongs, in the fastest race of the spring season in Kentucky. During the early days of this meeting, Oil Capitol and Bolingover ran like prospects for the race. As his name would suggest, Bolingover is a son of Bolingbroke, who was slow to mature and never really warmed up until he went a mile and a half. Oddly enough, Bolingover is precocious. Its one of those things the pedigree students find hard to explain. Perhaps you know that the Bashford Manor is one of the Middle Wests traditional two-year-old stakes. It was introduced as long ago as 1902 and was named for the late George Longs stud near Louisville, where Free Lance, Sir Huon and other high-class runners were bred. The winner in 48 was Ky. Colonel, who beat Olympia in the race, and may try him again in the Derby. AAA Everyone, of course, knows that Armed isnt what he used to be, but he still is better than an empty stall, and won as the shortest-priced choice of the Downs meet. Its possible that the worlds richest gelding will appear in the 0,000 Churchill Downs Handicap at seven furlongs here on May 21, but then the Calumet Farm has a far sharper candidate in Bewitch, if it chooses to have a starter. Armed hasnt won a stakes event this season, but he has won two overnighters in five starts, and was third to Coaltown in the Gulf stream Handicap. Probably he now would be retired to Calumet were he an entire horse. By the way, he has a two-year-old brother called Rearmed in the string this season, and a yearling brother named Two Gun, who is one of Mrs. Wrights favorites. Rearmed is a carbon copy of his noted brother in appearance and, naturally, he will be "the observed of all observed" when he makes his debut. AAA Turfana: It would be a good story if H. P. Headleys Lithe or Flying Time won the Oaks. They are from Alcibiades and Flying Lee, past winners of the stake. . . . A half-brother of the Derby winner, Clyde Van Dusen, F. Tylers plater, Rich Uncle, still is racing at 10. . . . The Downs course reminds Ted Atkinson a little of Tropicals. . . . Alsab s Day has been returned to training, for filly-and-mare stakes at Arlington-Washington. . . . Joe Williams and "The Killer" are encouraged to hope Running Story will win, now that she has the hang of finishing in the money. . . . Star Reward and Shy Guy are prospects for the MRAs many stakes features.
