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vmmmmmmmmmmm. Weighing In By EVAN SHIPMAN BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y„ June 6. — Tomorrow is "Belmont Day," and while the Metropolitan circuits big race carefully avoids the vmmmmmmmmmmm. fanfare that accompanies the Kentucky Derby and, to a lesser extent, the Preakness, still horsemen do not have to be reminded that this is the best race of them all. We will not say that a poor horse has never won the Belmont; the records show that quite a few ordinary three- — year-olds have scored over the years in this mile and a half test of stamina and speed, but we will emphasize that, whenever a poor colt has won the Belmont, the whole generation stood indicted, and our breeders could hardly escape the lesson implied in the result. On the other hand, the Belmont has .crowned the career of the colts who cause us to take pride in American blood-lines; the best have revealed their true calibre on the long, exacting stretches and sweeping turns of the Westchester Racing Associations beautiful course, a course designed deliberately to prove the thoroughbred at all distances. Like the rest, we have our own idea of who wilL win tomorrows classic, and, if you are numbered among our faithful readers, you will have grasped that our choice is the Cain Hoy Stables Alsab colt, Armageddon, a game, one-eyed warrior who has always shown a special predilection for this strip. Armageddon will not be favorite tomorrow. That honor will, undoubtedly be accorded the Preakness winner, Blue Man, a Blue Swords colt who should be perfectly at home over a mile and a half route. Blue Man has worked well for this his most important engagement. He is sharp, and he will have the advantage of Conn McCrearys mount, a jockey who understands him and whose style is suited to Blue Mans sort of race. Our one good look at Blue Man was in the mile and a sixteenth edition of the Experimental Handicap at Jamaica last April. In that race, Blue Man was a trailer, or a near trailer, until his field reached the far turn of the egg-shaped oval. Then McCreary made his move. In a single furlong, Blue Man had caught and passed the big field. As they turned for home, Blue Man was now in front, and he coasted from there. That one run had taken all the fight out of his opposition. That we saw. We did not see either the Kentucky Derby, where Blue Man finished third to Hill Gail and Sub Fleet, or the Preakness, that we understand this colt won with authority. For our comprehension of the later races, we must rely on the charts, and they are indicative of the respect that should be accorded this game, consistent colt. Nevertheless, we pick Armageddon. First achieving prominence when he captured the Champagne Stakes over this track last fall, Armageddon has always shown a marked preference for this strip. After an unsuccessful Florida campaign and a couple of moderate races at Jamaica, trainer Moody Jolley brought him back to Belmont, and Armageddon promptly scored in the Withers. The Withers was a good enough race, but on that testimony alone we would hardly be picking Armageddon to win tomorrow. After the Withers, he was shipped to Baltimore for the Preakness, raced prominently much of the way, and then tried to bolt on the stretch turn, finishing far back. Returned to Long Island, this inconsistent colt, whose inconsistency is probably due to his having lost the sight of that eye, showed a really remarkable effort in last Saturdays Peter Pan Handicap. In that stake, Armageddon shouldered a steadying 122 pounds, ran right with the fast pace all the way, and then outgamed the lightly burdened, and much improved, Golden Gloves in the drive. It was an impressive effort. Armageddon did everything that a really good colt should, and our impression was that, on the evidence, we will have to see him beaten at Belmont by one of his own generation before we will believe it. What a pity that John Hertz was still in Europe as of yesterday and unable to see Count Trims sparkling performance down the Widener chute. While Count Trims race was not a stake, it nevertheless brought out a small field of stake class, and the ease with which the attractive chestnut son of Count Fleet handled his opposition was truly impressive. They were really "burning oil" in this trip down the straightaway, and jockey Ray York was in no hurry to reveal his hand. Not until the field was level with the clubhouse stands did he make a move aboard the favorite, but when York asked Count Trim the question, he received an immediate answer, and in no uncertain terms. The smooth-going chestmrt shot out of the pack, Continued on Page Forty-Five I WEIGHING IN By EVAN SHIPMAN Continued from Page Four racing straight and true, assumed the lead as if this was the easiest of chores, and continued, unpressed, nonchalant, to the finish. Possessing that kind of speed at the end of a dash where the first quarter was run in .2,1%, and the second two panels in :22%, is an indication of this youngsters class and quality. Game Chance, a highly considered member of "Mr. Fitz " barn, was. in the beaten field, as was Ben Whitakers full brother to My Request, Star Request. This pair never knew which way Count Trim went. Specs Crawford, whose Dans Chance survived a claim of foul to snatch a claiming race on the flat last week, had another close call yesterday when this plater, re-turned to the hurdles, outfinished a large, and pretty fair group of specialists of the little fences. Once again, the objection sign was flashed, and there was a long wai while the stewards examined the motion pictures. Dans Chance, with this columnists agile young nephew aboard, did unquestionably bear out in the drive as he approached the tote board. Evan Jackson, however, did all he could to keep his mount on a straight course, fanning him about the neck with his whip. At the time, Oneida, who wound up second, was a good length behind Dans Chance* and Eaby, his rider, could easily have gone to the inside to make his bid, had Jie so chosen. The fact that Oneida was at least a length behind Dans Chance in the drive no doubt influenced the stewards decision to let the result stand. In this race, the French horse, Eperdn, making his first start in this country and still a little green to our ways, may have been best. With that outing under his belt, Mrs. C. M. Baxters fencer will hardly be beaten by that sort again.
