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Eight Entered in Watersplash Purse See Best Prospect ► As Likely Favorite Caillouette Gelding Making First Local Start; Fast Mail Under Colors After Lay-Off WASHINGTON PARK, Homewood, 111., May 31. — The Kenesaw Farms Best Prospect, fresh from a series of excellent efforts at Churchill Downs, makes his initial start of the Illinois season when he encounters a shifty field at six furlongs in the Water-splash Purse here tomorrow afternoon. A four-year-old gelded son of Chance Play — Joan Crest, Best Prospect has shown improvement since he was brought back to competition this year. On one recent occasion at the Derby track, he generated enough speed to be several lengths in front of the worlds leading money-winning gelding, Armed, during the early part of a dash, but tired through the stretch and was beaten some three and one-half lengths. There will be no such formidable opposition as Armed in the Watersplash. The seven slated to face the Kenesaw color- bearer are Woolford Farms Fast Mail, Wally Yablonowskis High Shine, Mrs. F. R. Christiansens Washburn, D. C. Wil-helms Bubbling Easy, Mrs. Ada L. Rices Danada Capt., Mrs. L. Wagners Nickey W., and Marion H. VanBergs Rose Bed. Since arriving here, Best Prospect has worked impressively, having drilled five-eighths in 1:00%. His record shows that he runs on any type of track with equal facility and his burden of 113 pounds doesnt seem enough to anchor him. Georgie South is to handle the reins. Was Made Eligible for Steger Looming as a formidable factor, even though he may be a slight outsider in the wagering, is Fast Mail, a strapping gelding that has been away from the races since August of 1947, a year that found him winning three of his five starts against good opposition. At one time, Herbert M. Woolf, Kansas City, Kas., merchant and sportsman, regarded Fast Mail as one of the best prospects in the barn, but a series of injuries caused the rangy thoroughbred to spend many months on the farm while undergoing treatment. That trainer Johnny Nerud holds him in high esteem is attested by the fact that he was nominated for the Steger Handicap that was won by his sta-blemate, Delegate, last Saturday. Obviously Nerud prefers to get a hard race under his charge before asking him the question in a stakes. Clockers report Fast Mail has, of late, been one of the most impressive thoroughbreds in the Woolford organization. Another from Churchill Downs making his seasonal bow here is Nickey W., a six-year-old, who last raced against Best Prospect and was beaten four lengths by the latter. This particular event was won by Roi Rouge, with Ariel Ace second and Best Prospect third. In two previous starts, Nickey W. finished second and in back of him were thoroughbreds who would command much respect were they in such a contest as the Watersplash. The consistent Rose Bed, as usual, must be reckoned with. Last Saturday she gave her usual honest performance, but was unable to match strides with Clevelander and Countess In. Prior to that, however, she convincingly whipped Bullish, Countess In, Pad Lock and several other capable sprinters. High Shine, a Calumet Farm cast-off, that disappointed as a heavy favorite over Tiger Tom, Riot and others in his previous outing at this track, must not be disregarded. The six-year-old was making his initial start of the-season after a Florida campaign and it may be that he needed that effort as a conditioner. Danada Capt. is moving many notches up the class ladder. The Rice stable dropped him down for ,500 in his most recent race and he came home on the chin strap by nine lengths. Because most, or virtually all, horsemen on the grounds suspected that he was unsound they did not claim the former high class gelding. Whether he can move from the lowly ,500 competition to an allowance race, however, is is a big question thatll require close study before patrons flock to his support. Bubbling Easy is a fairly speedy mare who should play a part in the early pace and if shes in the mood she may hang on better than usual. Washburn has not raced since last June and may need a race or two before he reaches his best form.
