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REFLECTIONS By Nelson Dunstan Three-Year-Old Scene Shifts to Pimlico Sophomores Need Breather Between Races Coaching Club Will Attract Top Fillies Older Horses Pointing for Suburban Handicap CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 6. With the Kentucky. Derby now history, the three-year-od scene shifts to other, centers, particularly Pimlico, where the Preakness will be run on May 20, and then to Long Island, where the Belmont Stakes will be run June 10. The Preakness and the Belmont Stakes are by no means the only important races ahead for three-year-olds, but as they complete the "Triple Crown," they naturally arouse the greatest interest of the American racing public. Giving the "Triple Crown" candidates a breather of two weeks between the Derby and Preakness, and then three weeks between the Preakness and Belmont is a schedule that should be followed every year. It is asking a great deal of any horse to run one and pne-auarter miles in Louisville on one week-end and then ship to Baltimore and race one and ... »„wcncus miles the following Saturday. The English Triple Crown, the 2,000 Guineas, Derby and St. Leger, are spread over a period of three months, so those competing have plenty of opportunity to be at their best for each race. When it is considered that our three-year-olds usually engage in three or four races before the Derby, it is little short of astonishing that so many of our sophomores are still in the running for a race like the Belmont Stakes, which is at one and one-half miles. Since 1919 only eight of our three-year-olds have been able to win the "Triple Crown," and when we consider what they are asked to accomplish, it is surprising there are that many. Besides the Preakness and Belmont there are many important races for three-year-olds before the latter event is run. Some of these races are designed as preps for the Preakness and Belmont, while others are placed on the schedule to attract horses who find the longer distances beyond their capabilities. The Swift Stakes will be run at Belmont Park Monday at seven furlongs. It drew 71 nominations. While none of those who raced in the Derby wUI go to the post, there are enough speedsters to make it an interesting feature. Following the Swift, the Withers will be run at Belmont May 13, the ,500 Constitution Handicap at Suffolk Downs May 20, the 5,000 Jersey Stakes at Garden State Park, and the 5,000 Peabody Memorial at Lincoln Fields May 30. The 5,000 Peter Pan Handicap at a mile and a furlong will be the feature at Belmont on June 3, and then a week later comes the 5,000 Belmont Stakes to complete the "Triple Crown." The same day the 5,000 Kent Stakes at one and one-sixteenth miles will be offered at Delaware Park, and it is certain to attract a number of the best three-year-olds who prefer a distance shorter than the Belmont. In bygone years some "Triple Crown" aspirants used the Withers of one mile as a prep for the Belmont. In 1919, Sir Barton was the first winner of the "Triple Crown," and the same year he was also a Withers winner. Almost a quarter of £ century passed before another three-year-old was to win the "Triple Crown," plus the Withers and that was in 1943 when Count Fleet swept all before him in the three-year-old ranks. Inaugurated in 1874, the Withers has one of the most impressive beadrolls of any three-year-old stake in this country, and it is safe to say that another fine group will go to the post this month. The race was moved up a week this year to avoid conflict with the Preakness. Among the top sophomores nominated are Your Host, Middleground, Hill Prince, Mr. Trouble, Theory, Greek Song and others. Then there is a considerable number of three-year-olds who did not go in the Derby, but who are capable runners at shorter distances, and these include Ferd, Quiz Show, Lights Up, Starecase, Navy Chief and Guillotine, the Greentree Futurity winner, who is much more at home racing at a mile. Three-year-old fillies will also be in the spotlight this month. This week, the Prioress at Jamaica and the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs served as forerunners to the 5,000 Acorn at Belmont at one mile Wednesday. Virtually every top three-year-old filly in the East is named for this race, and they include the much discussed team of Bed o Roses and Next Move. Bed o Roses was declared the two-year-old filly champion last year by a wide margin, but there are many who insist that her stablemate. Next Move, is her equal. It is possible that the pair will be sent out as entry in the Acorn and again on May 27 in the 0,000 Coaching Club American Oaks, which is generally considered the most important event for members of that sex and age contested in this country. In the Coaching Club Bed o Roses and Next Move may be asked to meet Duchess Peg, Sunday Evening, Striking and others who showed promise during their two-year-old careers. During the past 20 years, the Coaching Club has been won by Top Flight, Black Helen, Dawn Play, Level Best, Vagrancy, Twilight Tear, Elpis, Harmonica and last year, by Calumets Wistful. Competition of an important nature during May is not confined to the three-year-olds, for older horses will be very much in the picture at intervals. Next Saturday the 0,000 Dixie Handicap at Pimlico and 5,000 Camden Handicap at Garden State will precede the 5,000 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park by a week. There are, many other races for older horses in May, and the most important is the 0,000 Suburban Handicap, which, at one and one-quarter miles, will be run at Belmont Park May 30. Noor, the imported horse who twice defeated Citation on the West Coast, has been named for the Suburban, and even though Ponder, Citation and Two Lea are not expected to start, there are many others, such as Capot. Better Self, My Request, Three Rings and Royal Governor, who will thoroughly, test Charles S. Howards son of Nasrullah. The Suburban is the only race at Belmont for which Noor has been nominated. It has been reported that Howard will send him on to Saratoga for such races as the Saratoga Handicap and Saratoga Cup.
