view raw text
Weighing In By EVAN SHIPMAN BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., May 28. Strategically placed between the mile Withers and the mile and a half Bel mont Stakes, the nine-furlong Peter Pan Handicap, feature of Saturdays program represents an important stage in the development of each seasons three -year -olds. This is not an old race, having been added to the calendar in 1940, when the erratic Andy K. defeated Cockerel and Red Dock, but it had an immediate appeal to owners and trainers. From the start, it has taken a good colt to win the Peter Pan, the victors including Slide Rule, Lucky Draw, Jeep, Ponder, Lights Up and, last year, Counterpoint. Counterpoint, you will recall, was not recognized as a champion, or even as a serious candidate for championship honors, when he went to the post in the last renewal of the Peter. Pan, but after the rather frail chestnut son of Count Fleet defeated Battlefield, Hall of Fame and Battle Morn his name began to assume considerable importance, his chances for the Belmont, his subsequent start and another victory, being highly respected. This year, the leaders of the generation, or at least those who appear to be the leaders at this stage of the season will not be in the Peter Pan field. Hill Gail is on the shelf; Blue Man and Sub-Fleet were not entered, and Tom Fool, Cousin and Jet Master have been declared. In the absence of these "name" horses, Master Fiddle, Armageddon, Pintor and One Count are the high weights, and it might be said that these colts have shown more nise than achievement. While handicapper John Campbell has placed Master Fiddle at the top of the Peter Pan list with 12G pounds, four more than Armageddon will be asked to carry, many horsemen will find, we think, that the Alsab colt, winner of the Champagne Stakes last fall and of the recent Withers at this track; has credentials at least as imposing as those of the gray. They will also look with an appreciative eye on Armageddons chances because this one has shown a special liking for the Belmont strip, his two major victories proving that he is perfectly at home over this footing. Another who evidently likes Belmont is the English colt, Olympic, ranked here at 116 pounds. This colt, who has been well prepared for an American campaign by Ivan Parke, was beaten only a nose by Jet Master in his debut on this side of the Atlantic, and that race was followed by another good effort. Olympic seems to have adapted himself to our methods with less delay than is common with importations. The Belmont Stakes, naturally, is his great objective, and the Peter Pan will tell us fairly accurately how he will fit with top company. When Titien IT. comes out for the thirty-seventh running 5f the featured Meadow Brook Steeplechase tomorrow, it will marke the French five-year-olds last appearance in the colors of A. E. Masters, as he has been entered in the Belmont paddock sale to dissolve a partnership. This brilliant and consistent fencer, who captured this same Meadow Brook last year in his initial venture over the big obstacles, is generally considered the best hurdle horse seen in this country in years, and his jumping is so faultless that he may well earn a similar reputation as a steeplechaser. He was still a trifle short for his seasons debut this spring in the Charles L. Appleton Memorial, but he was safe as a church over his fences. Although evidently tired toward the finish, he accomplished the final obstacles with the same impeccable style he had shown through, and you may be sure that we were watching Titien H. closely, since our nephew was in. the saddle. His next start was in last weeks Corinthian, and this time he was a. more prominent factor, although still not quite as sharp as he ought to be for the Meadow Brook. Personally, we dislike to see Titien n. change barns, because it is not often that a youngster, new to the trade like Evan Jackson, gets the opportunity to ride a top horse, but our bad luck should be someone elses good fortune, because this handy, hard-hitting bay may have a lot to say about the steeplechase stakes this season, and "made" chasers are almost impossible to find. Looking with admiration at the Belair Studs attractive chestnut two-year-old, Game Chance, we ventured to ask John Fitzsimmons whether this son of Some Chance, and the fine mare, Bonnie Beryl, could really run. "Well, if he cant run, father and I will just have to admit that we have nothing in the barn this year," Mr. FitzV chief assistant answered. "Right now, Game Chance seems to us much the best. But well have to see how he Continued on Page Nine I WEIGHING IN By EVAN SHIPMAN Continued from Page Four does out there on the track in a race. He can really hum in the morning:, but they often forget all about how to do things in the afternoon." A few minutes later we were left in no doubt as to the trainers meaning:. Game Chance was green as grass for the first quarter mile of his race, and until the final two furlongs, it looked as if he was sure to finish-dead last in this scamper for juveniles down the Widener chute. Then, suddenly, Game Chance took to running, and actually got to the front a few yards from home. There he faltered ever so little, and George D. Wideners Pomposity, who had set the pace most of the way, nailed the Bonnie Beryl colt right on the money. Hell do when he learns to settle to business at the drop of the flag. . Bringing an eight-year-old back to winning form after a long retirement is just about the toughest assignment any trainer could ask for, but it looks now as if George Odom would get there with Donor. This veteran who was one of the stars of the handicap division several years ago looks better with every start. Yesterday, he was not up to catching Combat Boots, even though he enjoyed a nine-pound pull in the weights, but he was trying, and, where an old gelding is concerned, that is the main thing. When Donor first came out, and for several years thereafter, he was hardly "a thing of beauty," and it was always hard to believe that a thoroughbred looking like, that could possess so much class. Over the years, he has filled out until today, he presents quite a respectable appearance. One glance at his coat -is enough to assure you that Odom has him in fine condition.
