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REFLECTIONS By NELS0N dunstan NEW YORK, N. Y., May 10.— Long Island fans who had hoped to see Coaltown in a one-mile race against top horses were doomed to disappointment when the Calumet speedster was declared out of the Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont on the week-end. Calumet also declared Fervent and Free America from the race, leaving Faultless, who has been assigned 117 pounds, to carry the devils red and blue silks. Faultless has been very much of a disappointment this year for, in nis 10 starts to date, he has only been able to win one race. In the Dixie Handicap last week-end, he was a decided favorite with the throng. But, after a dull effort, finished sixth to the Brookmeade gelding, Chains, who was in with 109 pounds. In the Metropolitan, Chains has been assigned 112 pounds, and this way weighted could be a threat to such top weights as Vulcans Forge, who heads the list at 126, followed by Rippey at 125, and then Better Self and Mount Marcy at 122 each. Rippey would be more suited at seven furlongs, but the Helis winner of the Paumonok and the Toboggan is now at his peak and he looks like the one that the:* will all have to catch. Stymie was the winner of the last two runnings of the Metropolitan, a race that, down through the years, has been won by many of the best horses of the American turf. AAA Steeplechase followers will be out in force at Belmont on Thursday when the International Steeplechase Handicap at about two miles will be the feature event of the day. War Battle has been assigned the top weight of 154 pounds and second on the list is The Heir at 150 pounds. It is too early in the season to know much about the form of the jumpers, but The Heir demonstrated in the ■m Jervis Spencer Steeplechase Handicap at Pimlico that he is in shape to meet the best of his opponents. Thursdays race includes many of the jumpers who have been prominent in recent years, notably Elkridge, Fleet-town and Tourist List, all of whom are weighted at 149 pounds. Fleettown was the winner of this race in 1946 and 1948, and Boojum n., who was the winner in 1947, is Coaltown Will Be Missed in Metropolitan Chasers in First Belmont Stake Thursday Olympia to Await the Withers on May 21 Blue Lancer, 00, Beats 45,000 Pair also an eligible at 140 pounds. This is the first stake event for jumpers at Belmont, and a week from Thursday the Charles L. Appleton, at about two miles, is the feature. These events will lead up to the Meadow Brook Steeplechase Handicap, which is at two and a half miles, and will be run on Thursday, June 9. Practically the same jumpers are named for all of these events. AAA The withdrawal of Olympia from the Preakness field did not come as a great surprise, but it will add interest to the Withers which, at one mile, will be run at Belmont one week from Saturday. The majority of the horses who started in the Derby and are expected to answer the bugle in the Preakness, are eligible for the Withers, and that includes Ponder who, judging by the Derby, is more at home over a distance of ground than he is in a one-mile race. Ponder is one of the 103 three-year-olds who are named for the Belmont Stakes, and at one and one-half miles this event would seem to suit the Calumet colt perfectly Ponder s sire, Pensive, won both the Derby and the Preakness in 1944, but. in that year, just missed joining the "Triple Crown" list when Bounding Home defeated him in the Belmont. Those coming up from Louisville believe that Capot will be the one that Ponder will have to beat in the Preakness. There are quite a few, however, who will still pin their faith in Palestinian, even though he did falter in the final sixteenth of the Derby to finish four and a half lengths behind Capot, who was three lengths behind Ponder. AAA Times without number, it has been demonstrated that the price paid for a yearling is no indication of its class as a race horse. While horses in training can be judged more accurately, the Swift Stakes, which was the feature event at Belmont last Saturday, is an example of how a cheaper horse can sometimes prove to be a better in vestment than one who drew a much higher bid when in the sales ring. The winner of the Swift was Blue Lancer, who was taken out of the estate of Henry Salisbury dispersal for 00 when his horses were in a horses-in-training sale at Belmont. In the beaten field of the Swift Stakes was Danherst, who cost William Helis 9,000 and, just behind the latter was Algasir, the two-year-old gelding for whom Mrs. F. Ambrose Clark paid 06,000 at the ErnSt dispersal at Saratoga last August. Blue Lancer is a bay colt by Blue Swords — Oconee, by Whiskalong, and he must now be regarded as one of the best bargains secured by an owner at a dispersal sale in recent years, for to date this year, he has earned 5,400. When the Salisbury estate was appraised by Humphrey Finney, he placed a valuation of ,500 on this horse and, at a later date, Frank Kearns, who now trains Blue Lancer, offered ,000 for him but that was refused. A slight injury caused the horses leg to be painted when he was sent into the sales ring and that may have scared the buyers away. AAA Word comes from Detroit that the Fair Grounds meeting, which will open on Friday for an 80-day session, is all in readiness. Although the Michigan Racing Association is planning to give those in the " "otor City a modern new track in 1950, they have spent considerable money to improve the grandstand and the stable area at the grounds, where racing has been held for a decade. There will be sufficient horses on hand to fill the fields, and by an arrangement with the Chicago tracks, the stake events in the two cities have been staggered so as to allow the top horses to race at both centers. The Friday feature is the 0,000 Curtain Up Handicap, at six furlongs and, on the week-end, they will stage the 5,000 Border City Handicap for three-year-olds and older horses at a mile and a sixteenth. Not only has the new association employed some of the finest racing officials in the country, but they have a board of directors which bespeaks the high quality of racing that will be offered Detroit fans. If we judge it correctly, this meeting will be a success from the start, for the people of Detroit are known to be the type of sport lovers who will support a quality project.
