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Fourteen Fourteen in in Curtain Curtain Up Up at at Detroit; Detroit; Ponder Ponder Narrowly Narrowly Escapes Escapes Mishap Mishap Bolting Horse Just Misses Derby Victor Quick Action by Jones and Brooks Averts Accident; May Have Eight Preakness Foes PIMLICO, Baltimore, Md., May 12 —Ben Jones and the Preakness hopes of Ponder, not to mention the Pimlico Oaks chances of the favored Wistful, were in serious jeopardy here this morning when a bolting horse narrowly missed crashing into the trio sauntering along at the five-sixu -nths pole during the early training hours. Only instant and instinctive action on the part of Jones, aboard his pony, and rider Steve Brooks, in the irons with Wistful, averted a potential disaster. As it turned out, the bolter, a horse named Charleston, missed the Calumet trio by a matter of mere inches. Here is the way the affair, which easily could have resulted in serious injury to the Calumet trio, both equine and human, shaped up. Jones was riding between the two Calumet Farm horses, Ponder being on the "outside" and Wistful on the opposite, which in effect made that the "inside." Ponder was being handled by his regular exercise rider, "Pinkey" Brown. They were proceeding at an easy jog at the five-sixteenths pole when a pair. Charleston and Desert Raid, broke off at the three-furlong pole for what was designed to be a work. Desert Raid went straight and true along the inner rail, but Charleston went out of control and bolted crazily right for the Calumet contingent. Brooks was the first to become aware of the impending collision. Brooks instantly acted, pulling Wistful Up. Jones almost simultaneously sensed what was happening, too, and reached over and pulled Ponder up sharply. Brown had not seen the possible accident taking shape. In any event, the trio came to almost a dead halt in far less time than it takes to tell it. Charleston, handled by the veteran Continued on Page Two Ponder Narrowly Escapes Mishap Bolting Horse Just Misses Derby Victor and Wistful; List Nine Preakness Hopes Continued from Page One exercise rider, Charles Jackson, thundered by at full speed on an uncertain course, and missed the trio by the scantiest of margins. After breathing a sigh of relief at the narrow escape from mishap with two of the most noted horses in America, Ponder, the winner of the Kentucky Derby, and Wistful, winner of the Kentucky Oaks and now regarded as a prime candidate for rich filly stakes at most every major American track this year, Wistful was sent on her way and was given a breezing five furlongs in l:034/5. Ponder was then sent once around the track at a gallop commonly known as a two-minute clip, and jogged on out a full mile and a half. Jones said Ponder would be blown out tomorrow morning. The Kentucky Derby winner left Louisville a fit horse, and it is apparent that the head man of Calumet had decided that the son of Pensive will need a minimum of work to keep him at top edge for his Preakness engagement late Saturday afternoon. As for Charleston, he was finally brought under control, and was worked three furlongs in :36%. Desert Gold had originally gone the same distance in :38%. Old Rockport was the only Derby horse to engage in a serious work this morning. Under the watchful eyes of owner Clifford Mooers and trainer Phil Reilly, and with Gordon Glisson up, the son of Carrier Pigeon and winner of the 00,000 Santa Anita Derby, stepped a brisk half in :49, with the first three furlongs in :37%. The Preakness field was by no means certain today, at least two horses awaiting the track conditions for the race before their connections will make a final decision. Christiana Stables Parliament has been listed as a definite scratch in case of a fast track. Jockey Johnny Gilbert has been invited down to Pimlico from Garden State Saturday to ride Parliament if the preferred footing prevails. Six Certain to Start The exact status of Model Cadet, owned by Mrs. Ada L. Rice of Chicago, also was in doubt pending the weather. Model Cadet would prefer the mud, although trainer Tom Smith has not stated definitely that he will withdraw if the track remains fast. The only other probable starter about whom there is any question is Crispin Oglebays Noble Impulse, a winner here earlier in the week in track record time of 1:42 for the mile and a sixteenth. Trainer J. P. "Doc" Jones said that no definite decision had been reached. This left a total of six certain starters for the seventy-third Preakness running at a mile and three-sixteenths. However, most people here look for at least one or more of the tentative trio listed above to actually go postward. The six definite are Ponder, Palestinian, Capot, Old Rockport, Sun Bahram and Curandero. Curandero was safely berthed in a barn over on the backstretch, having shipped from New York without incident. Trainer John Gaver, of Greentree Stables Capot, public choice to take Saturdays race by virtue of his many good races prior to the Kentucky Derby, coupled with a bold showing in the Diamond Jubilee mile and a quarter run in Louisville, advised that he would send the son of Menow along quite briskly tomorrow morning. Figuring a top field of nine starters, the gross of the race will amount to a total of 10,870. If an original nominee to the Preakness roster would win, the net would be 9,985. If a supplemental entrant were to annex it, the net would be reduced to 7,870.
