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MOODY JOLLEY— Trainer of Armageddon, who triumphed in the Peter Pan at the Belmont Park course on Saturday. i . * - ; . REFLECTIONS I By Nelson Dunstan Belmont Stakes Points Out Potential Sires One Hitter Inconsistent, But He Has Speed Battlefield Out of Money for the First Time Kinscem Was Most Consistent of All Mares NEW YORK, N. Y., May 31. Belmont now enters the last full week of its spring season and its big race is still to come in the Belmont Stakes on the week-end. While it lacks the color of the Kentucky Derby and is by no means the last of the rich and important races for three-year-olds, the Belmont is a definite sophomore milestone and counts heavily for the winner in the scoring at the end of the season. They call it the "Test of the Champion." At one and one-half miles, it is the sternest of spring three-year-old races, but every important event might be called a championship test. The Belmont ranks with the worlds foremost three-year-old events, and a victory means the opening of the doors to a career in stud. No sophomore race has a more brilliant beadroll and a comparison of that roster with the leading sires list down through the years will reveal that racing class has a close affinity with breeding class. Many horses who are regarded as "great" and later made good in stud, were Belmont winners, the list including Hanover, Hastings, Commando, Peter Pan, Colin, Man o War, War Admiral, Count Fleet and many others. The other day this writer pulled another blunder when we referred to the Peter Pan as the Withers. For a long time, we have been wondering how many people read this column and now we are happy to learn there are at least 10, for that many informed us that the Withers had been run on May 10 when we were in Kentucky. It was Pope who said, "A man should never be ashamed to own up to having made a mistake," which is but saying, in other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday. Today, we witnessed the Peter Pan and, during the month of June, we hope, besides the Belmont, to see many other t-important events. We will try to give them their right names, for it is somewhat embarrassing to have a fellow remind you that you confused the names — and the race you mentioned had been run three weeks ago. In any event, Belmont has a fine meeting and for the next week you can be sure we will call the Belmont Stakes the Belmont Stakes! The impending renewal of the Belmont Stakes may be a thriller, but the most interesting event to date, in this writers opinion, was yesterdays Suburban, in which one of the most inconsistent horses, One Hitter, ran one of the best races of his entire career, and the most consistent of all horses in recent years, Battlefield, ran out of the money for the first. time. When One Hitter is at the peak of form, he is most capable- and . his one failing is that he does not come to his peak very often. Two years ago he defeated Noor, the imported horse who had been creating new records at Citations expense in an overnight race, then, in the Manhattan Handicap, he again defeated the Irish-bred who was imported by the late Charles S. Howard. Now a six-year-old, One Hitter has started 72 times, winning 15 races and was out of the money on 31 occasions. Although he won only three races in 1951, the son of Shut Out* earned 8,200 and helped materially in placing the Greentree Stable at the top of the list of money-winning owners. While we believe that his best race was the Manhattan, in which he defeated Noor, his Suburban in 2:02 under 112 pounds, was another race which stamped him a capable performer. It was in the Suburban of 1913 that Whisk Broom n. created the much disputed record of 2:00 flat. One Hitter now joins the many who, in the past 20 years, completed the one and one-quarter miles of the Suburban in 2:02 or better. Experts tell us that the three virtues of the race horse are speed, more speed and still more speed. Somewhere in that summation recognition should be given for consistency. Horses who are credited with being "jewels of consistency" include Battlefield, who, prior to the Suburban, had started 27 times to win 16, finish second in 10 and third in one. Sometime, when you have a day off, take the record books and check the horses who raced that number of times and were never out of the money. The list will not include Alsab, Armed," Assault, Exterminator, Seabiscuit, Stymie or Whirlaway, just to name seven of the best horses of the century. For any horse to be listed as "great," his consistency must be a handmaiden to his speed, and that is why Colin, Hindoo, Man o War and Sysonby immediately come to mind when the truly "greats" of the American turf are under discussion. Citation was unplaced once in 45 starts, of which he won 32, and no one will deny the Calumet colorbearer a ranking with the four mentioned. Battlefield may not equal those five in speed, but for consistency he deserves high rating on any list. Speaking of consistency, only 31 horses in history have won all their starts and if one throws out those with but one, two, "or three races, the- list dwindles considerably. In this respect, one of the most remarkable mares that ever lived was the Hungarian Kincsem, who raced all comers under all conditions and was never defeated in 54 starts. Foaled on March 17, 1874, she was of English parentage and historians of the day first called her a freak because she was so small and poor looking that not one bid was made for her when in the salesring. She raced in Hungary, Austria, Germany and England. After winning the Austrian Derby, Oaks and St. Leger she went to England in 1878 to win the Goodwood Cup at two and five-eighths miles, easily defeating such good ones as Pageant and Lady Golightly. Pageant was one of the best of his years, but was no match for the Hungarian mare. Before the coming of Kincsem, Elipse started in 20 races and won all of them, giving rise to the expression, "Eclipse first, the rest nowhere." There have not been few who compared with those mention, but of the 26 that started more than once and won all their races, six were American.
