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R E F L E C t I O N S By NELSON DUNSTAN NEW YORK, N. Y., June 1.— Tomorrows Coaching Club American Oaks is the most searching spring test for three-year-old fillies in this country. In earlier days, it was raced at a mile arid an eighth, then at a mile and a quarter, and now it is at a mile and three furlongs to try thoroughly both the speed and stamina or members of the age and sex. Since 1917, the beadroll has been one of the most brilliant of American three-year-old events, for it reveals the names of many who were champions in their respective years. In 1947, Arnold Hangers Harmonica was the winner and, the following year, she performed a rare feat when she defeated Stymie in the Suburban Handicap. Last year, A. G. Vanderbilts Next Move won and created a new stake record of 2:15%. Like most of the other three-year-old races run this year, the Coaching Club appears wide open. Because of her impressive showing in the Acorn Stakes, which she won by twelve lengths, W. M. Jeffords Kiss Me Kate will have a large following, but, in this writers opinion, the "dark* filly" is Herman B. Delmans How, who won tfie Kentucky Oaks from a fine field. After finishing fifth in the second division of the Acorn Stakes, it was discovered that How had lost a shoe in the running. A A A In the general scheme of things, it is fitting that on. Monday the filly division of the National Stallion should follow the Coaching Club American Oaks as the next stake event on the Belmont schedule. Many fillies who win stakes at two go on to be the three-year-old filly Coaching Club Oaks Acid Test for Fillies How Is Dark Filly of Belmont Park Race Royally-Bred Babes in National Stallion Busanda Performed Rare Feat in Suburban champions the following year. The-entries for the National Stallion have not been released, but whether they start or not, there are many fillies among the 227 nominated who are as nicely bred as any group we have seen in the past ten years. As an instance, the Maine Chance Farm of Mrs. Elizabeth Graham has a filly this year named Miss Busher. She is by Alibhai out of Busher and, in our book, there is just no improving on* such a pedigree. Ogden Phipps has Resourceful, who is by Shut Out — Black Helen, and John -S. Phipps may have his colors carried by Wave Crest, a bay daughter of Blenheim H. out of Black Wave, the dam of Jet Pilot. J. W. Schiffers Cigar Maid is already known to New York fans and she is by Pavot out of Never Again n. We could name many more of royal breeding who are eligible for the National Stallion. Some will probably not amount to a hill of beans, but the list shows that our breeders still follow the adage of "breed the best to ihe best." AAA Racing has had all sorts of upsets this year and with the filly Busanda rolling home the winner, the Suburban was no exception. The truth of that old saying, "weight brings them all together" has been demonstrated on many occasions. With the feather of 102 pounds, the Ogden Phipps filly left us with the thought that there are times when weight is a decided advantage for a member of the weaker sex against her male opponents. Busanda is a beautifully-bred miss, being by War Admiral out of Businesslike, by Blue Larkspur. During her three- and four-year-old career she has started no less than 24 tirnes, winning but four races, yet her Suburban victory will link her name with those of the famous mare Imp, the "Coal Black Lady," the very fast Beldame, and Harmonica, who won this race in 1948. There are many rich races for fillies and mares still on the calendar ahead and although Busanda will not get in as lightly as she did in the Suburban, she should play a conspicuous part in them. AAA The Suburban victory of Busanda was another great triumph in the long career of "Sunny Jim" Fitzsimmons, one of the grandest gentlemen who ever trod the American turf. Back in 1922, Mr. Fitz won a Suburban with" a horse named Capt. Alcock and here he is, 29 years later, winning the same race with a filly. Known as the man who "hasnt an enemy in the world," Fitzsimmons was born in Sheepshead Bay about 80 years ago. In his early days, he was a jockey, and he is the first to tell you, "I wasnt much." As closely as we can trace it, he trained his first stake winner in 1914, but his career from 1922, when he trained Capt. Alcock, to date, has been one of the bright pages of the annals of horse racing. He has probably trained more 00,000 winners than any man in the sport. He took over the training of the Belair Stud in 1925 and a year later the Wheatley Stable horses. How many races he has won since 1922 is a question, but Continued on Page Thirteen REFLECTIONS I By NELSON DUNSTAN Continued from Page Forty-Four there is no question that he is one of the most respected men on the American turf today. AAA Our handicap ranks are undergoing a definite change. A year ago, such name horses as Noor, Coal town,* Citation, Hill Prince, Middleground and others were powerful magnets at the turnstiles of tracks throughout the country. The Suburban Handicap drew over 53,824 spectators on Memorial Day, yet there was not a horse in the race whose name had box-office appeal, even though Three Rings, Greek Ship and One Hitter had performed well a year ago. These changes come at intervals in racing and by the end of this season we may have a new group of name horses who will attract throngs to the various courses. It has been said that huge crowds would attend the races regardless of the quality of the horses competing in the various events. This writer has never been of that opinion. While the Suburban did not attract name horses, the field was one of quality and it could be that from its starters will come one or two who, by fall, will be an outstanding attraction. County Delight, for instance, could not give 20 pounds to the filly Busanda, but he is improving with every race and may yet become a name horse.
