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Metropolitan Mile Attracts Fifteen Vulcans Forge Hasjr | Top Impost of 126 l Winner of 00,000 Coast Handicap Engages Rippey, But Why Not and Faultless J 1 BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., 1 May 13. — I. J. Collins Vulcans Forge heads j » field of 15 named overnight for the | fifty-sixth running of the 5,000 Metro- 1 politan Handicap tomorrow. The chestnut son of Mahmoud, who carries 126 pounds 1 in this mile event, has had his moments of 1 glory and there may be some significance in the fact that the two best races of his career were at the same track and distance as the "Met." Two years ago, Vulcans Forge won the Champagne here, beating Escadru and My Request, while last year he stunned a goodly throng by beating Coaltown and Better Self in the Withers. The former C. V. Whitney colt also won the 00,000 Santa Anita Handicap during the winter. In his last start, Vulcans Forge was a thoroughly beaten second to Coal-town in the Gallant Fox Handicap, but was followed by Three Rings and But Why Not, whom he meets again tomorrow. William Helis Rippey, who is next in the weights at 125, will probably be favored tomorrow, on the strength of his victories in the Paumonok and Toboggan. Rippey was also favored for last years Metropolitan, but found the mile too long for him and stopped badly to finish third behind Stymie and Colosal. He had preceded that defeat by a triumph in the Toboggan and from this distance there appears to be an excellent chance that history will be repeated. James to Ride Tepweight Vulcans Forge and Rippey are asked to concede substantial chunks of weight to several sharp and capable horses. In order of the weights, the rivals tomorrow are: King Ranchs But Why Not, 119; Calumet Farms Faultless, 117; Mrs. E. L. Hopkins Three Rings, 116; Foxcatcher Farms Man-yunk and Gustave Rings Respingo, 114; Greentree Stables Blue Border, 111; Mrs. F. Ambrose Clarks Tea-Maker, 107; A. G. Vanderbilts Loser Weeper and Frank Frankels Frankly, 105; Mrs. Rea Warners Make-Up Man and Hal Price Headleys Catsmeow, 104; Rings Rare Jewel, 102, and Joe W. Browns Riverlane, 100. Basil James is to ride Vulcans Forge, while Eric Guerin will again be on Rippey. Warren Mehrtens is to pilot But Why Not, Chris Rogers will be on Faultless, Doug Dodson is to guide Three Rings, while Arnold Kirkland will be on Manyunk and Conn McCreary astride Blue Border. But Why Not has showed a liking for the Belmont course in the past, winning the Acorn Stakes here in 1947 and finishing a good second in the Ladies Handicap between Snow Goose and Gallorette. After being voted best of her age and sex at the end of that season, But Why Not went into an eclipse from which she emerged abruptly last Thursday when she won the Firenze Handicap at Jamaica in style. She has continued to train well for the Metropolitan which has several times been won by members of the weaker sex. In comparatively recent years, Black Maria, Nimba and Gallorette captured the fixture. Faultless turned in a dull effort in the Dixie Handicap at Pimlico last Saturday and has showed little all year. Three Rings is an exceedingly honest, hard-hitting gelding, who has had the misfortune to tangle with Coaltown in most of his most important engagements this year. Though he succumbed to Vulcans Forge in the stretch in the Gallant Fox, the son of Blue Larkspur actually set the pace before Coaltown for a half mile and was still in front of Vulcans Forge at the end of a mile. Respingo has showed considerable improvement in recent races and beat Vulcans Forge and Three Rings in a mile and a sixteenth event at Jamaica in April. His stablemate, Rare Jewei, compiled a long-winning streak in Florida, but has fared less well in recent weeks.
