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JUDGES STAND by charles hatton CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 3. — "The Filly Derby," as the Kentucky Oaks is called, will have its seventy-seventh running this Derby Eve,- and the form students expect that Sickles Image will be the choice. Clarence Hartwicks filly is a good trouper and she appears to have have made made a a most most favorable favorable impres- have have made made a a most most favorable favorable impres- impression when she came from behind in a run of six and a half last week-end. There now is a theory along shed-row that "All she needs to go the Oaks route is something to go with her." In fact, her owner-trainer-breeder has been tempted to run her in the Derby, and her rider offered to put up the ,000 starting fee. A year ago Hartwick couldnt sell her for ,500, but he has since rejected 0,000. Indeed, Sickles Image hadnt a name a year ago, familiar as she has made it since last summer. Her career is reminiscent of that of Pan Zareta up to now, and the Oaks may mark a turning point in it. If it is proved that she can stay the route of the filly classics, her earnings capacity will be materially increased, and she will be a candidate for the title among those of her age and sex. Opposing her in the Oaks are How and Aunt Jinny, Experimental topweights of the 1950 two-year-old fillies, and Ruddy and Juliets Nurse, who finished lapped on her in her two most recent races. AAA Reports from Delaware are to the effect that a large banner across Dovers busiest intersection identifies the town to motorists as "Dover — Home of Repetoire — Winner of 1951 Kentucky Derby." This is the ultimate in whammies. Your Host came from California last year with a streamer on the side of his car proclaiming him the Derby winner. He never ran so far back. Similarly there was a Derby at Ashland some years ago in which Carlaris was preceded to the paddock by a brass band, then was beaten by an upstart called Malcolm B. Jr. Almost as colorful as Repetoire is his rider, Peter Francis McLean of Boston, who has made something of a come- Sickles Image at Crossroads in Oaks Delawarians Put Whammy on Repetoire Artificial Sun Aids Mameluke in Prep Many Will Back Mutuel Field in Derby back on the Virginian. He won his first race on the West Coast in 38, enjoyed some success for several years, then began a slump. Indeed there is said to have been one season, in 45 or 46, when his only winner was by special arrangement. He played the role of the winning rider in a movie called "She Went to the Races" and starring the curvaceous Ava Gardner. McLean then tried steeple-chasing for a time, and in 48 finally got on a gDd flat horse when he won two Delaware Park handicaps with Royal Governor. He has been involved in four uncomfortably close finishes with Repetoire this season, and won the largest share of the purse in each. AAA The 1951 Derby horses forms are susceptible to change without notice, and that of Mameluke has changed for the better. On the morning of the Blue Grass Stakes, trainer Sylvester Veitch observed, "At least I will have the distinction of running the sorest horse in either end of it." But Mameluke ran out of his soreness the first half mile, and ran over the rest of the field the last half. The rheumatic chestnut has been striding out with more assurance ever since. Veitch attributes this to the unseasonably warm weather, with a booster of infra red rays from a special lamp installed in the ceiling of his box. Mameluke will parade for the Derby recommended by one of the most remarkable route trials in the history of the stake. The railbirds still are talking excitedly of his mile and a quarter in 2:04%, flagged down the last quarter, and cantering out a mile and three furlongs in 2:19. Zev, Black Gold, Whiskery, Gallant Fox, Omaha, Lawrin, Johnstown, Jet Pilot and many others won their Derbys in time slower than 2:04%. Of course, it could be contended that the track was faster for Mamelukes work. But it still was impressive and trainer Veitch declares, "I never had a horse that worked a mile and a quarter as easily. I dont think he is going to get late running the distance Saturday." AAA This Derby promises to have a large mutuel "field," and it wouldnt be surprising if it attracts a great deal of play. Many patrons, confronted with a large field and contradictory form, take the defeatist attitude that none of them can be a very "good thing," and back the mutuel coupling. So many of them, in fact, that the field was the second choice to Quatrain in 1925, and one of the field horses, Flying Ebony, won and paid .30 for . Wagering on the Derby will begin at 9:00 a. m. again this year, when director of the mutuels E. A. Weidekamp can commence worrying that one of the field will cast himself or become suddenly ill and have to be scratched. You can imagine the confusion if there were any occasion for a refund with 100,000 on the grounds and the race minutes away. AAA Turf ana: Assistant track superintendent Cliff Burke wonders "Whatever became of the "Triple Crown?" Nobodys game enough to guess the winner this year." . . . Sam E. Wilson, Jr., was well pleased with Royal Mustangs race in the Blue Grass. "It proved he will stay when he is rated," the Texan observes . . A number of the local two-year-olds have the cough. . .Warner Jones will offer a Royal Gem colt who is a half-brother of Whirling Dough, at Keeneland . .Most patrons will like Chicago tracks new admission, complimentary passless policy. Harry Sheer says some of the sharpies had made a racket of Annie Oakleys . Clara Bell Walsh, the Shaffers and Dr. Asbury are renewing their Derby luncheons and dinners at Lexington. Must have been a little uranium in the new, extraordinarily "live" soil Tom Young placed on the Downs surface, judging from the times this spring.
