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Ponder in Final Trial for Belmont Kentucky Derby Winner Goes Handy Six Furlongs in 1:12 y Old Rockport Drills One Mile In 1:40 for 5,000 Route Test; Other Candidates Rest BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., June 9. — Fillies dominate tomorrows moderate Belmont Park program, with five three-year-olds meeting in the ,000 Semi-ramis Purse at one mile, and nine babes slated to dash five furlongs down the Wide-ner straightaway in the Kathleen Purse. R. A. Firestones Latest Vogue heads the Semiramis, which is the sixth event, and will probably be favored over Gay Mood, Sub, LEspiegle and Plunder. The first named, who races for John S. Phipps, is well-placed under 111, including the "bug," and may require considerable catching. Five of the nine fillies in the Kathleen, fifth event, have won their last starts, more or less impressively. G. P. "Maje" Odom will saddle Light Upon for Mrs. R. L. Gerry and Parchesi for Mrs. Deering Howe, and the two ladies may be hard to beat. Light Upon beat Striking last out, while Parchesi trounced a huge field of claimers. Hirsch Jacobs will saddle Our Patrice for Mrs. Jacobs and Hatikvah for Isidor Bieber, and this pair will probably be favored. Our Patrice beat Scotch Wine, Navy Bean and Vanetta of tomorrows field in good time, while Hatikvah scored over a band of 0,-000 claimers. The other recent winner in the dash is Vera S. Braggs Wise Cutie, who beat a good field here on May 20. Meanwhile, interest in Saturdays 81st running of the 5,000 added Belmont Stakes is rapidly eclipsing all intervening events as a subject of conversation. Hopeful horse players trying to get even on the claiming race at hand have been noticeably disconcerted when, after asking their friends, "who do you like," they are told, "Ponder" or "Capot will go all the way this time," or "Palestinian is the solid horse." Three Have Claims to Championship This impending edition of the historic mile and a half probably will not be won by a champion of the calibre of the great horses that have captured the fixture since F. Morris Ruthless won the inaugural at Jerome Park back in 1867, but few renewals of the fixture have posed more intriguing questions before the running. The Belmont has traditionally set the seal on the champions claim to the leadership of the division, but in many recent years victory in the Belmont was a mere formality. Since 1930, Gallant Fox, Twenty Grand, Omaha, War Admiral, Johnstown, Bimelech, Whirlaway, Count Fleet, Assault and Citation came to the Belmont merely confirming the title. This year, three of the six probable candidates have valid claims to the throne and at least one of the others could win without elevating any thoughtful eyebrows. Calumet Farms Ponder, surprise winner of the Kentucky Derby and victor in last weeks Peter Pan Handicap at a mile and a furlong, was given his final speed trial for the Belmont this morning. The stretch-running son of Pensive had Steve Brooks in the saddle when he stepped six furlongs in 1:12% in handy style. The fractions were :36, :48 and 1:00%, indicating that Jimmy Jones will saddle a sharp colt and one who may be exceedingly dangerous, even if the speed horses do not run themselves completely into the ground, as they did in the Derby and Peter Pan. Clifford Mooers Old Rockport, who finished a half-dozen lengths back of Ponder in the Peter Pan, but in front of Green-tree Stables Capot, also worked this morning. The Santa Anita Derby winner was sent a mile in 1:40, being eased slightly toward the end of that trial. Old Rockport broke about 10 lengths behind Brave Reward, and finished well in front of his stablemate. The fractions of the useful move were :25%, :49%, 1:01%, 1:14% and 1:27% for seven furlongs, after which the boy took a hold. Greentree Stables Capot again enjoyed a day of rest. The big-kneed son of Menow, who finished second to Ponder in the Derby after forcing Olympias pace until he made that favorite quit, then won the Preakness after forcing the pace set by Noble Impulse, tired to the point of complete exhaustion in the Peter Pan after stepping six furlongs in slightly better than 1:10 under 126 pounds. As if that wasnt enough, he was sent another mile and a quarter in 2:05% on Tuesday. He will probably "blow out" tomorrow morning. Mrs. E. H. Ellison Jr.s Sun Bahram and J. Graham Browns Saint Nicholas are also expected to get "pipe openers" tomorrow morning. Sun Bahram, who may add to Capots troubles in the Belmont by setting a swift pace, turned in an excellent effort here on Monday when beaten only a neck by the older, and capable, Flying Missel. The Bahram colt finished a nose in front of Ponder in the Preakness at a mile and three-sixteenths and seems to be improving steadily. Isidor Biebers Palestinian, who is expected to. be almost equally favored with Ponder on Saturday, was given his final serious work for the Belmont yesterday, when he went a mile in 1:38% at Jamaica with a heavy exercise rider in the saddle. There is a theory in some quarters that this trial may have been too fast to be beneficial, but Palestinian is a colt who appears to thrive on work. None of the six Belmont probables, who will carry equal weight of 126 pounds, has yet been asked to travel a mile and a half.
