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Nickey W. in Driving Churchill Downs Score i Shows Way to Donke Serenade as Little Imp Is Poorly-Ridden Third CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 18.— Mrs. Leo Wagners Nickey W., a homebred eight-year-old son of Jimmy Moran and Pineaway, drove to a half-length victory here today in the featured Shut Out Purse. Closing courageously under Tommy Barrows strong handling, Nickey W. beat Joseph A. Goodwins Donke Serenade, who was a nose before C. H. Everitts favored and poorly-ridden Little Imp, third in the field of seven Shut Out Purse entrants. Nickey W. carried equal high weight of 119 pounds with Donke Serenade and stepped the three-quarters in 1:11%. Second choice, the Wagner stallion was held at 17 to 5 to score his initial success of the 1951 season. While nothing should be taken from Nickey W. for his game performance, Little Imp certainly turned in a sharp effort under the weak Larry Wilson. The favorite was last to leave the stalls and Wilson then rushed him up fast On the inside, running into interference at the upper turn. Little Imp was then steered around the leaders approaching the stretch and, when making a bid between horses, his pilot eased him back and sent him to the outside. That move proved costly but the Everitt gelding came again on his own courage to earn third honors. Summerlike weather, clear skies, and a fast track was the order for approximately 7,500 spectators on hand today. Roman Sandal, a three-year-old son of Roman and Alaport, carried the silks of his, owners and breeders, Hayden Kirkpat-rick and Neville Dunn, to a well-deserved victory in the six and one-half furlongs Alsab Purse. Responding to a clever ride from Jerry West, the Lexington-owned homebred colt beat T. F. Devereaux favored Gay Hunter by three-quarters of a length. Five and one-half lengths off the lapped leaders, H. A. Burns Bull Ford finished third in the field of nine starters. Roman Sandal, making the first start of his career, impressed as a useful prospect inasmuch as he raced kindly and turned oh a bit during the last sixteenth mile to repulse Gay Hunters final bid. The sophomore is an unusually well made individual. Running time for the Alsab was 1:19and and Roman Sandal returned backers 9.40 straight.
