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W E I G H I N G IN by EVAN BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., June 18. — Martas sparkling victory in the featured Top Flight Handicap yesterday closed the Westchester Racing Associations brilliant spring meeting with the proper flourish. This was one of the best renewals of a stake that invariably provides a corking contest, and Martas name is worthy to rank right with the finest of our modern ama-zons. Royce G. Martins daughter of Haltal — Jessie Gladys, by Pharamond H., came off the swift pace set by Hal Price Headleys none too stouthearted Aesthete to show not only the fast mile and a sixteenth of the current meeting, but one of the fastest races at this popular distance seen here at Belmont in the last several years. Her time of 1:42% was within two-fifths of a second of Busandas record for the stake, and equals that shown by Level Best, one of the great ladies of modern racing. Now a six-year-old, Martas record has hardly accorded with * the high esteem in which she has long been held by discriminating horhsemen, but this mare has always presented a serious problem to her trainer, the capable "Woody" Stephens, and it has only been on rare occasions that her best days coincided with important stake engagements. She won the coveted Ladies Handicap here as a three-year-old, and has also been successful in the Molly Pitcher and Vagrancy Handicaps, but yesterdays Top Flight was her first score in eight tries this season and the fourth stake victory of her entire career. AAA With both the Gazelle at Aqueduct and the rich New Castle Handicap At Delaware Park in the immediate offing, the fillies and mares division promises to be very much in the limelight for the next couple of weeks. Marta, of course, will be pointed for the 00,000 added New Marta Catches Big Stake on a Good Day Mare Will Now Point for Rich New Castle Assaults Full Sister Draws Close Scrutiny Consistent Sea Legs Leads Chasing Division Castle, now the most valuable event in the world for this division, while the Coaching Club Oaks winner, Grecian Queen, is expected to start in the Aqueduct feature, meeting such rivals as the Canadian filly, Canadiana, and Greentrees late development, Hows Tricks. As fas as Marta is concerned, the daughter of Haltal has two obstacles to overcome; first, she will have to come out of yesterdays Top Flight in serviceable condition, and second, she must receive fair treatment from Gil Haus, secretary and handicapper at Delaware. Marta returned to the Belmont winners circle in good shape, as far as the eye could perceive, and if all goes well, she.should be very much a factor in the big race at Wilmington. Grecian Queen, according to the conditions of the Gazelle, must concede quite a bit of weight to Canadiana and, more particularly, Hows Tricks, the latter rather impressive in a recent sprint here, and highly regarded by her stable connections. They have not hurried this one, but it is no secret that they believe this chestnut daughter of Questionnaire to be the best of her age. Jim Conway and the Whitaker family quite conceivably hold other views. AAA When the King Ranchs homebred On "Your Own scored handily in a dash for maiden fillies early in the week, this miss excited a lot of comment in the walking ring, and understandably so, since she is a full sister to Assault. A couple of years back, trainer Max Hirsch uncovered a full brother named Air Lift, as handsome a colt as you would wish to see, but this one had the misfortune to break a leg in his very first start at Jamaica, the accident befalling him when he seemed to be winning and well within himself!, That was a cruel blow both to Hirsch and the King Ranch, for Air Lift truly had everything in his favor. Now, On Your Own comes along to represent the Bold Venture — Igual, by Equipoise combination, and she is certanly a quick trick. Out of the gate like a flash, she opened up on her field with an initial quarter in :22 flat, and she was all by herself at the finish in :51% for the abbreviated distance. Nevertheless, we would hesitate to say that On Your Own as is attractive a type as the unfortunate Air Lift. Conforming to the family shade of chestnut, she is powerfully developed behind, but appears to "give way" toward the front, sloping down to the withers, and quite light in the neck. This conformation vaguely recalls that of Bewitch as a two-year-old, but the Calumet miss seemed to be better balanced and certainly had a smoother way of going. AAA It was no surprise that all the top weights accepted their assignments for tomorrows Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Handicap chief feature of the two-day United Hunts meeting here at Belmont. Sea Legs has improved so much this season that Montpeliers Battleship . gelding may well prove equal to the task of conceding a pound to Oedipus, a task that has been demanded of no horse in this division for several years. Sea Legs has a long string of victories behind him now, and he seems to get better and better for trainer Ray Woolfe. Fencing faultlessly for the French rider, Albert Foot, and with a world of speed between obstacles, this chaser showed us a remarkable performance in the recent renewal of the two miles and a half Meadow Brook, a race in which he appeared to dominate Oedipus from the moment Foot gave him his head. Sea Legs is an easier horse to rate than the Continued on Page Thirty-Nine "WEIGHING IN By EVAN SHIFMAN Continued from Page Forty-Eight front-running Oedipus, and the slightly shorter distance of tomorrows test may be somewhat to the latters advantage. Still, on the basis of their last encounter, we would have to call Sea Legs the sharper horse right now, and we are looking for the Montpelier colorbearer to repeat his Meadow Brook score, though we admit this is rank apostasy where our old favorite, Oedipus is concerned. AAA With the close of the United Hunts, most of the steeplechase set will turn their attention to Delaware Park, where the Georgetown and Indian River handicaps are coveted trophies. The jumps at the Wilmington course require an accomplished fencer, particularly for the last named stake. Oedipus split Crooning Wind and Genancoke in the two-mile Georgetown back in 51, but Mrs. Phipps usually brilliant performer has never shown his best over the Delaware obstacles, and it was no great surprise to us when his name did not appear among the stake nominations there this season. Strangely enough, last years winner of the difficult Indian River was The Mast, one who often is careless over the Belmont jumps. Perhaps the more imposing fences at Delaware cause The Mast to pay special attention, but, if so, they have not had that. happy effect on Oedipus. At one time, there was talk of sending Oedipus abroad for a try in the Grand National at Aintree. His connections, however, are well acquainted with the brutal fences, and probably decided that he was not the type. The French grand steeple at Auteuil, a race that Oedipus trainer, George Bostwick, will be watching next week, ought to be far more to his taste.
