view raw text
JACK HODGINS— Trainer of Sub Fleet, well regarded member of the Preakness Field at Pimlico. Crack Field of Ten Seeking Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Sub Fleet, Blue Man Fancied In Second Triple Crown Test One Count, HandsomeTeddy/ Jampol Also Well Regarded; To Gross 13,270 If All Go By CHARLES HATTON PIMLICO, Baltimore, Md.t May 16.— Ten three-year-olds, the elite of the American turf, have been named to compete here Saturday for the fame and fortune of the 5,1000 added Preakness, second of the "Triple Crown" events. The Maryland Jockey Club is preparing to accommodate a crowd of about 35,000 for the seventy-sixth running of its mile and three-sixteenths classic, and indications today were that most of the patrons will back Charles T. Fishers Sub Fleet, who was defeated by the ailing Hill Gail in the Derby, but went down gallantly. There is a growing partiality for A. W. Abbotts Blue Man, who had the toughest kind of luck in the Blue Grass classic. There is a growing partiality for the latter and he may wind up a slight favorite. Also expected to come in for extensive support in the augmented tote facilities are Harry Guggenheims Withers winner, Armageddon, and Mrs. Walter Jeffords One Count, who is to be ridden by the old maestro, Eddie Arcaro, bidding for his fifth Preakness. California will be represented by the tireless Arroz* in a renewal of the stake that has a particularly large element of intersectional rivalry. Others named are the emancipated plater Jampol, who won the Preakness Prep and represents the German emigre Max Kahlbaum; Sam E. Wilson, Jr.s, Texas-owned Gushing Oil, J. J. Amiels Count Flame, E. B. Benjamins Primate and Gustave Smiths Handsome Teddy. Expect New Records to Be Set The weatherman predicts showers early tomorrow, but not enough to dampen the track much nor the enthusiasm of the thousands that have been clamoring for reservations. The attendance mark here is the 42,370 who saw Assaults Preakness in 46 and wagered a record of ,219,120. The largest single race handle came Preakness day the following year, when the crowd wagered 94,312 on Faultless race. With the play soaring to new highs during earlier days of the meeting, it is* possible that tomorrows will establish some track records. If all the 10 named for the Preakness face starter Eddie Blind at the appointed 5:17 Eastern Daylight Saving post time, the race will gross 13,270. In the event one of the original nominees is the winner, it will net 6,135, and if any of the supplemental candidates Sub Fleet, Arroz, Handsome Teddy and Jampol is successful it will net 4,020. In addition to the monetary value of the race, there is the Woodlawn Vase, to be presented by Gov. Theodore Roosevelt Mc-Keldin of Maryland, the traditional wreath of synthetic black-eyed susans, the case of champagne for the winners attendants, and the enduring niche Preakness winners occupy in racings hall of fame. The world famous Maryland classic will be presented with all the customary trimmings and cereemony, complete to the parade of the large Maryland Jockey Club band, which will strike up the stirring refrain of "Maryland, My Maryland" as the field enters the course. Post positions were drawn this morning Continued on Page Seven 4 Crack Field of Ten Seeking Preakness Sub Fleet, Blue Man Fancied In Mile and Three-Sixteenths Stake; Will Gross 13,270 Continued from Page One and by a rather remarkable coincidence, Eddie Arcaro, who drew number 1 on Hill Gail in the Derby, again will break from number 1 on One Count in this event. Hill Gail was on the pace the entire route, but One Count, who has some dash, is rather more of the stretch-running persuasion. Blue Man, who disadvantaged from his outside position at Louisville, breaks from number 4, with Sub Fleet coming out of number 8 and Count Flame and Primate on the outside. The Preakness field is less wieldy than that for the Derby, but then Pimlico affords a shorter run to the clubhouse turn. Off what has been seen of the entrants this spring, the highly-fancied Sub Fleet appears capable of the most "zip" out of the gate, should Steve Brooks care to employ it. Handsome Teddy and Gushing Oil also have some early foot. Most of the others come from, behind. Gushing Oil, Handsome Teddy, Armageddon, Arroz, Blue Man and Jampol blew out over a fast surface this morning, all of them merely breezing. Trainer Woody Stephens was delighted with Blue Man, who moved with great facility while turning in one of the faster moves, the Flamingo and Experimental winner skipping a half in ;49%. The one- eyed Armageddon actually worked faster, however, dockers catching him in a flat :48. Arroz, who competed in the Prep last Monday, was timed in :51%, and the gelding Jampol, winner of that mile and a furlong, was tabbed in :51%. -Gushing Oil went three furlongs in :ZGYs, Handsome Teddy iri :36%. Trainers Pronounce Charges Fit The trainers of all the entrants seemed to feel they have come up to their engagements "fit as hands can make them." Jack Hodgins, who handles Dixianas Sub Fleet, commented that, "He is at the top of his form, and can have no excuses on that score." The possibility of "off" going, however remote it may seem to weather casters, has to be considered, pn this score Hodgins declares, "I do not care if it snows!" and trainer Stephens of Blue. Man , appears equally indifferent to track conditions for his charge. Trainer Wally Dunn of Arroz observes that his colt "can run in slop or on a fast surface, but does not care much for a holding track of the sort that obtained for the Prep." Handsome Teddy also did not untrack himself as expected in that stake, wheras Jampol revelled in it. Trainer Jolley says that he has no idea if Armageddon cari handle the mud. Gushing Oil appears amphibious enough to run his race almost anywhere. The presence in the stirrups of Eddie Arcaro, who has won the Preakness on Whirlaway, Citation, Sill Prince and Bold, is bound to make One Count the medium of heavy support in the machines. But Blue Man has a familiar jockey in Conn McCreary, who won the 44 Preakness on Pensive, and Sub Fleet gets on famously with Steve Brooks, who had him on the pace in the Derby Trial then rated him and brought him from behind in the Derby itself. Arcaro and McCreary are the only riders in todays race who have won previous renewals, and "Plain Eddie" can only better his own record, as he did in the Derby. Cal Bierman is to ride Arroz, with Ray York on Armageddon, Ken Church on Gushing Oil, Pete Anderson on Primate, Bennie Green on Count Flame, Darrell Madden on Handsome Teddy and Fernando Fernandez on Jampol. Fernandez is, incidentally, the veteran of the Preakness pilots at 45. Capot Holds Time Record The hilltop course is in excellent condition this spring and it may be that Capots 1:56 "flat" Preakness and track record for a mile and three-sixteenths will be approximated this week-end. Bloodstock breeding pundits find much to intrigue them in this Preakness field. Two past winners are represented by sons in the xace, Alsab by Armageddon and Count Fleet by Sub Fleet, One Count and Count Flame. Handsome Teddy is the only one of the group by an imported sire. He is a son of Flushing H., the versatile and attractive gray Mahmoud stallion who won both on the flat arid through the field in France. Arroz . was foaled in California, Handsome Teddy in Maryland, Count Flame and Jampol in Virginia, the others in Kentucky. The two latest Preakness winners, Bold and Hill Prince, are Virginians. First post time Saturday will be 2 p. m. The host organization has thrown open the innerfield to the public* with tote facilities provided behind the odds board. There will be eight races, with scratch time for the overnighters established at 5 p. m. today. The Preakness is to be preserited as the sixth race. The Maryland Jockey Club band of 75 pieces, led by Bob Iula, will parade down the stretch, escorted by dapper Baltimore mounted police, after the second race and take up their usual position in the in? nerfield to entertain between races. The Columbia TV and radio shows are scheduled for a half hour beginning at 5 p. m. • EDST. The recent live telecast of the Kentucky Derby is reported to have been received nationally with remarkable clarity. Attendance and play records were broken at the Downs despite direct television. The Pimlico staffs have been working overtime in an effort to make the patrons comfortable as possible at the antiquated course for the climax of a remarkably successful meeting. Though boxes were sold weeks ago, some 600 reserved seats will be be placed on sale at 9 a. in. Saturday. The H. M. Stevens caterers, and the tote and police corps have been increased by hundreds for the Preakness day program.