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tmmmmmmmmmmmmmrm , c 1 1 I Weighing In By EVAN SHIPMAN Secret Meeting Impresses in Acorn Compare Tom Fool# Crafty Admiral Ryan Has Found Key to Royal Vale BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., May 11. — Allow us a word more concerning Saturdays Acorn before getting on to our , c * , ; J , : j l real subject for the day, which will be the handicap .division. We were unable to be present at Belmont for the filly stake, where we would certainly have shared in the general surprise at Grecian Queens downfall and the victory of James Cox Bradys homebred Secret Meeting. Once acain. the old platflude J ] c J s | i i : i i i : I j : , concerning the untrustworthiness of fillies in the spring will have to serve, since the chart and Bob Horwoods story both indicate that Ben Whitakers miss was perfectly placed in the running, had every opportunity to display her customary dash, and then just failed to answer her jockeys appeal. We have all seen enough of Grecian Queen by now to dismiss this effort as far from true. So little, on the other hand, was known of Secret Meeting that this daughter of Alibhai may actually have been one it the best of her division, and may go on to play an important role in the imminent Coaching Club American Oaks; her starts prior to the Acorn on the week end could have been accepted as excellent trials with the two important filly fixtures in view. This, by the way, is the first time a son or daughter of Alib- hai has ever scored in one of the races designated in this country as a "classic." We believe that the Westchester Racing Association would be making no mistake to "play up" the Acorn, giving the mile race the national importance that it lacks at present. With all the fanfare accorded the colts this season, our fillies certainly deserve a few blasts from the trumpet in their own right. With the Gallant. Fox and Dixie handicaps now a part of the record, and the Metropolitan, Suburban and Brooklyn handicaps in the offing, our guess is that the pattern of weights adopted at the opening of the eastern season by John Banks Campbell and Charley McLennan is due for some radical changes. Before the running of the Gallant Fox at Jamaica, we hinted that the prevailing estimate of Crafty Admiral might be too high, our suggestion in this space being that C. V. Whitneys much improved four-year-old, Cold Command, might actually be a lot closer to the Fighting Fox horse than the 14 pounds separating them in the mile and three -sixteenths Jamaica feature would indicate. Well, Cold Command has now humbled Crafty Admiral twice, the last time, in Saturdays renewal of the Dixie at Pim-lico, at a margin of 11 pounds. But on both occasions, Mrs. Esther duPont Weirs English importation, Royal Vale, was the winner. Royal Vale, it will be recalled, set a new American record for a mile and half on the turf in capturing the Miami Beach Handicap on closing day at Hia-leah last winter, but it required the two recent races to really establish this fellow as one of the leaders of his division. Slow to develop and erratic as a young horse, Royal Vale must now be taken seriously, and Jim Ryans charge can hardly expect much concession from Crafty Admiral when next they meet. When we complimented Jock Whitney recently on the splendid appearance of Tom Fool, that owner remarked that the magnificent Menow four-year-old had better be good because not in recent years had the handicap division looked to be of such quality. We would not hesitate to declare Tom Fool and Crafty Admiral the two handsomest thoroughbreds in training, and to gaze at either of them close up is a treat in itself. Last year, we doubted whether Tom Fool was a true "mile and a quarter colt," basing our reservations chiefly on the breeding of the son of Menow — Gaga, by Bull Dog, but partly on his style as we had observed it. This spring, Tom Fool has matured in such a striking fashion that we are ready to expect almost anything from him, particularly since any doubt we may have entertained concerning his ability over a distance of ground did not spring from a distrust of his gameness. Tom Fool has always been game to the core, but can as much be said for Crafty Admiral? The latter can run a mile and a quarter, and Continued from Page Forty WEIGHING IN By EVAN SHIPMAN Continued from Page Two in a way to break watches, but, as we see it, Crafty Admiral looks best when he has things all his own way. When he hooks • up with another good one, a horse who can look him in the eye, Crafty Admirals record shows that he is likely to be found wanting. Last winter in Florida, Crafty Admiral defeated Battlefield by a head in the Gulf-stream Handicap. The two were on even terms at the top of the stretch, and the Fighting Fox horse got the decision, but Battlefield suffered the injury during the • running of that race that has now forced his retirement. We cannot believe him capable of giving his true measure in that drive. Here on the Metropolitan circuit, Crafty Admiral met defeat in the Toboggan, the Metropolitan, the Suburban and the Carter before he struck his winning stride last season, and when the scales eventually tilted in his favor, we are ungenerous enough to suspect the quality of his opposition. As Whitney predicted, the handicap division is composed of a fine group this spring, and the results of the Gallant Fox and Dixie will correct any prejudice that may have existed in favor of a single horse. From now on, weights will bring the good ones together, and we will have plenty of opportunity to test our theories concerning Crafty Admirals heart and Tom Fools ability at a distance. Such a race as the Suburban is a wonderful proving ground for theories. Royal Vale, who will certainly be a factor in the important local handicaps, is an even more surprising development than was Spartan Valor a year ago. This English horse was just a fair sort at home, Ryan picking him up at the end of his three-year-old season for the equivalent of 0,000, Raced chiefly over the hurdles as a four-year-old, Royal Vale was hardly impressive, and it was not until he beat Battlefield in a seven-furlong dash at Hialeah last winter, that anyone suspected his class. Races following that victory were contradictory, and the jockeys who rode Royal Vale in Florida give conflicting testimony as to the way he likes to run, the footing he prefers — in fact they disagree about him altogether. In any case, trainer Ryan seems to have found the key to him, because neither the Gallant Fox nor the Dixie can be lightly dismissed. In both stakes, Westrope had a lot of horse at the end of the reins at the finish, while he has the foot to take the track at his riders pleasure. Royal Vales breeding is interesting enough to merit the extended mention we intend to give it shortly, but in the meanwhile you can be assured that this pedigree has a solid foundation in the strongest English staying lines.
