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SIRES AND b AMS *y NELS0N dunstan NEW YORK, N. YM June 8.— Our yearling scout returned from Kentucky with a briefcase chock full of notes on the colts and fillies to be offered at Keeneland in the eight selling sessions from July 25 to 28, inclusive. Humphrey Finney of Maryland is the scout we were referring to, and you have probably read that he was one of the two men selected by the Breeders Sales Company this year to examine the youngsters so that a decision could be arrived at as to which of them should be sold next, month and which should be held over until the fall sales.- There is nothing Finney likes more than inspecting or judging horses, but we have never known him in previous years to display the enthusiasm and the admiration that he has for the crop to be sold at Keeneland. While driving in from the Chrysler sale last week, Jack Denis, president of the Thoroughbred Clubs of America, asked Finney point blank, "Of all the yearlings you inspected in Kentucky, which one would you select as the absolute tops." Finney hesitated for a moment, and then said, "I would not want to name only one, but if you were to ask me which colt and filly in each consignment I consider the best, I could answer your question." AAA Probably you read in this paper a day or two ago that the Mereworth Farm will be the largest consignor to the Keeneland sales, offering 42 youngsters. Arthur B. Hancocks Claiborne Stud is next on the list with 31, and that is followed by Elmendorf and Coldstream, with 20 each. Then comes the Stoner Creek Farm of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Hertz, with 14. Finneys comments reveal that there are many attractive yearlings in all of these groups, but, he told the writer, there are also youngsters in the smaller lots who are certain to have high appeal to those at Keeneland. For instance, Leslie Combs II. of Spendthrift Stud, will offer a very fine group, and one colt who is certain to please the most discriminating buyers is by Bull Lea out of Devil Dancer, by St. James. Then, again, Harrie B. Scott has a chestnut colt by Balladier — Flaming Swords, by Man o War, who would be considered a top youngster anywhere. Some Notes on Keeneland Colts, Fillies Humphrey Finney Reports on Consignments Mereworth Farm Will Offer 42 Yearlings Claiborne Has Fine Bay Colt Out of Risk This colt is a brother to Blue Swords. Another group of high quality was out at Dr. Asburys Forest Retreat Farm, and in this lot there isva Questionnaire colt who is undoubtedly the biggest yearling to be sold at Keeneland this year. The veteran Thomas Piatt has a lovely chestnut filly by Our Boots — Lady Kentucky. AAA As in recent years, the Mereworth Farm of Walter J. Salmon will sell colts and fillies by a widely assorted group of stallions, including Count Fleet, Blenheim II., Pharamond II., Questionnaire, Shut Out, War Admiral, Heliopolis, Alsab, Hash, Ariel, Ocean Wave and others. Finney came back with high praise for the young stallion Ocean Wave, for he told us, "All of Ocean Waves youngsters in this consignment are uniformly good, but I was especially impressed with a chestnut colt out of Glacial, by Hourless. Of all of the colts I saw at Mereworth, however, I must name the bay by War Admiral out of Lady Lark, and which was foaled on May 15, as a very fine prospect. This colt is a long way from its full development, and should be a real beauty by the time he enters the sales ring at Keeneland. Of the fillies in the Mereworth group, I believe the bay by Count Fleet out of Amaranth, by Blue Larkspur, is one of the best of her sex that I inspected in Kentucky. On the whole, the Mereworth group is a splendid one and, due to the fact that so many fashionable stallions are represented, it will have wide appeal to all types of buyers. I might add that those who are looking for top fillies should inspect the miss by Blenheim n. — Ruledays, by Rhodes Scholar." AAA This wili be the thirty-eighth annual crop of yearlings from Arthur B. Hancocks Claiborne Stud at Paris, Ky., and it is safe to say that this group will continue to further the honors for this world-famous breeder. In this years group are colts and fillies by Blenheim II., Rhodes Scholar, Devil Diver, Fighting Fox, Eight Thirty, Whirlaway, Menow and others. Just a day or two ago, it was announced that the broodmare Risk had died at Claiborne, and this is a real loss to breeding, as she was the dam of Beaugay, Sky Larking, Little Risk, Danger Point and the stallion Pericles, for whom William Helis paid 6,000. According to Finney, Risks bay colt, by Menow, ranks as one of the best he has ever seen at Lexington. Finney was especially impressed with both the foals and yearlings of the young stallion Devil Diver, for whom he predicts a bright future. There is only one colt and one filly by Devil Diver in the Claiborne sale — the colt being out of Snow Queen, by Gallant Fox, and the filly out of Worth While out of Bosworth. Rhodes Scholars youngsters are certain to be popular with yearling buyers this season and especially so should Black Tarquin, who was the leading three-year-old in England in 1948, be returned a winner of the Ascot Gold Cup on Saturday. AAA Coldstream Stud, Elmendorf Farm and the Stoner Creek Farm complete the list of the five largest consignors to Keeneland, and more data on the latter two will be forthcoming when the complete entries are available. Coldstream Stud will offer 20 yearlings by the sires Bull Dog, Bimelech, Pictor, Heliopolis, Some Chance. Blue Larkspur, Half Crown, Occupation, War Jeep, Our Boots and War Admiral. This farm has turned out groups that have been consistently successful, and that is proved by the records. From 1933 through 1947, the Shaffer farm sold 205 yearlings at auction for the high average of ,834. They have not only won back their cost, but also a, profit of 29,880, and many of them are still earning. That remarkable sire, Bull Dog, has been the mainstay of the Coldstream sale, and this year there will be two colts and five fillies by this horse, who is the sire of the winners of more than ,000,000. Finney reported that they are a very fine lot and was especially impressed with the fillies out of Spotted Beauty, by Man o War and My Auntie, by Busy American. As the tops of the Coldstream lot, however, he named the bay colt by War Admiral — Summer Time, by Bull Dog.
