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Derby Derby Trial Trial Goes Goes to to Black Black George; George; Hill Hill Prince Prince in in Extended Extended Public Public Move Move Timed 11-8 Miles Over Sloppy Track Chenery Colt Goes Route in 1 :54; Oil Capitol Reported In Fine Form After Workout By TEDDY COX CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 2. — If the track happens to be other than fast on Derby day, Hill Prince may be might hard to beat. That was the general impression when the leggy colt worked the full Derby distance, a mile and one-quarter, in 2:09%, between the second and third races, over a sloppy track and through a heavy downpour of rain here this afternoon. Actually, the son of Princequillo— Hildene went only a mile and one-eighth at anything resembling his best speed. He was eased up in the final eighth of a mile. The fractionate were: :12ys, :24%, :37%, :50, 1:02%, 116%, 1:27%, 1:40 Ys and 1:54. The colts regular exercise boy, Bobby Judy, was in the saddle. Prior to breaking the colt off the serious part of the trial, Judy walked the colt, who wore blinkers, the wrong way around the track up to the eighth pole, and then galloped him slowly a full turn of the course before sending him away at the finish line. Judy did not have a strong hold on the colt, but never at any time did he attempt to press the issue. On several occasions the colt was seen to bobble, but that was undoubtedly caused by the condition -of the track. Favors Off Track While it seemed that the track had a good, solid bottom, it probably was not as conducive to high speed as the usual sloppy courses that are made that way from sudden downpours. Hill Prince seemed to reach his best stride through the stretch and as he passed the stands he received a good round of appjause from those in the grandstand. Hill Prince is believed to move up considerably on an "off" track. It was over a sloppy track that he won four of his races last year. "Im more pleased with my horse now than at any time since Ive come from Florida. He looked like his true self this morning and now I have every hope that hell show a good race in the Derby." Harry . Trotsek, Cicero, 111., horseman who is training both Oil Capitol and Lot O Luck for Saturdays 00,000 special, was, of course, referring to the former. The slightly-molded son of Mahmoud — Never Continued on Page Three , ► : : Hill Prince in Extended Public Move Over Sloppy Downs Track 1 Timed V/8 Miles in 1:54; j 0/7 Capitol Reported in j Fine Form After Workout r 1 Continued from Page One r Again H., by Pharos, had just completed a a a half mile spin around the "dogs" in ■ :50% over a "good" track. His regular ex- ercise boy, Carlos Legnon, was in the pilot e seat and they stepped the first three-e eighths in :37%. E Legnon was all smiles as he dismounted. I "I think hes finally back in his best j form," the swarthy lad told Trotsek. 3 "He was reaching out all the way and J was fighting for his, head. Theyve still 1 got him to beat." ; "Im going to work him again this week, r probably on Thursday and if everything j goes well I think well have a good, solid, r fit horse for the Derby," Trotsek added. I The apparent return to form of Tom . Grays colt makes the Derby more wide open than ever. In some quarters they claim Your Host will be a heavy choice in the race, but there are many others among the observers who are known for their ability to gauge odds, who think either . Midleground or Hill Prince will play the honor role. j , Oil Capitol will have his backers, too, but he will not by any stretch of the imagina- tion be the solid choice he was earlier after his dazzling conquest of the Flamingo , Stakes at Hialeah Park. But it is unanimously agreed among , those who saw his great Florida perform-[ ance that if, on Derby day, he is in Fla-i mingo form he "should be the favorite." i Ken Church, the young rider who will be astride Oil Capitol in the Derby, points to what occurred in Florida and says It creates a parallel with the colts present activity. Comments on Everglades "In the Everglades Stakes," Church explains, "Oil Capitol won at a mile and one-eighth in 1:50. That put him on edge for the Flamingo, for he had been beaten in his previous start. In the Flamingo he won at a mile and one-eighth in 1:48% with 126 pounds up. "Down here in Kentucky, he started twice at Keeneland. The first time he did not race well at all. Then in last weeks Blue Grass Stake he was beaten by three-quarters.of a length in 1:50% for a mile and one-eighth. Thus far he has done just about everything the way he did it in Florida. Now comes the big race. I think hell be ready." This correspondent is one of the few covering the Derby who still sees much hope in an Oil Capitol victory. We have been fortunate to have been on the spot when he showed some of his finest races and they were tremendously impressive. As an example, it was our belief that he , showed the finest effort of any two-year-. old of last year when he scampered off in | the Pimlico Futurity at a mile and one-[ eighth. That caused us to cast our vote for . him in the "Horse of the Year" poll. His I Flamingo score, was, it is generally agreed, the best race shown by any three-year-old this year. He carried the Derby weight, 126 pounds, on that afternoon, showed a high flight of speed all the way and when asked the question in the stretch he pulled away and won by six lengths. Little more could be asked of a horse, no matter how great. Trotsek readily admits that his charge was not himself during the opening phases of the Keeneland meeting. Back in Shape Now "Was not eating right and seemed dull and listless," he says. "Frankly, we were alarmed, but I really think he is back in shape. He is going about his work with lots of pep and his activity in the stall and under the shedrow makes us extremely pleased." With the Derby Trial on tap for today, APPRENTICE PALMER DOMENICO— His contract has been purchased by trainer Albert Fitzpatrick at Suffolk I Downs. there was not the usual interest m. the workout period. Carl Meyer, exercise and assistant trainer who is handling Hal Price Headleys Loto-white* waited until track superintendent Tom Young removed the "dogs" before working the chestnut colt seven-eighths of a mile. Ed. Note— "Dogs" an wooden fences placed from the inside ratting owt towards the center of the track to keep horses from cutting up that part of the course. He broke the son of Devil Diver — Lotopoise, by Equipoise off at the seven-eighths pole and worked him to the finish. The colt went along smoothly in :24%, :36%, :49, 1:14% and 1:27%. Wisconsin Boy, who presently is a very doubtful starter in the Derby, went fire-eighths in 1:04%. Shortly after the work period ended, Walter T. Fugates "million-to-one" Derby eligible, Hallieboy, arrived in the stabling area after a 37-hour journey by van from Linclon, R. I., where he had been racing at Lincoln Downs. He was accompanied by his groom and hot walker, Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Goodson, respectively. The Fugates and Goodsons hail from Chickamauga, Ga., and have been friends for many years, thus the relationship between them is much different than that of owners and stablehands. Mrs. Goodson, a comely 39-year-old little lady, seemed to be spokesman for the entourage. ."We decided to ship Hallieboy here after his race Saturday, when he finished second at Lincoln Downs," she said. "Walter Fugate said that he is a three-year-old, has four legs and the nomination fee has been paid. They were his main reasons for running in the Derby. He also was interested in the sire of the horse, Silverdale, at one time, so I guess there were some sentimental reasons. Hallieboy was extremely tired after the long trip and when he entered his stall he lay down immediately and found himself in such a position that he could not get up without help. The Goodsons reported, however, that he did not injure himself and "that he looks okay now." Owner Fugate is scheduled to arrive here Thursday, along with George Adkine, who will ride the big colt in the Derby.
