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W E I G H I N G IN y EVAN shipman SARATOGA, Saratoga Springs, N. Y., Aug. 21. Even if Mrs. Elizabeth Persons fine homebred son of the South American horse, Endeavour II., Porterhouse, proves the best of the large field he wilL encounter in Saturdays renewal of the Grand Union Hotel Stakes, the victory will have lost some of its savor for the Virginia horsewoman, since Cain Hoys Turn-to, winner of the United States Hotel Stakes on the occasion of Porterhouses -disqualification, will remain on the sidelines. As late as Thursday afternoon, Turn-to was con- sidered a certain starter for the important juvenile stake, but there has been coughing in his barn, and it is quite likely that the Royal Charger colt has fallen victim to an epidemic that has wrought havoc among the entries for all two-year-old events here recently. Leaving Turn-to out of it, Porterhouse must still face his sternest test in this six-furlong dash, and a score will place him, for the time being at least, at the- top of his generation Some of the highly fancied candidates for honors in this Grand Union have eluded us so far this season, but, in addition to Porterhouse, among those we have watched, Bobby Brocato, War Doings, Wise Pop and Quick Lunch would appear worthy of considerable respect. Porterhouse, nonetheless, suits our fancy for this fixture, his courage, his style and his robust conformation all proclaiming him a really high-class colt. While we could not possibly dispute the decision that took his number down last week, we did think that Mrs. Persons colt was the best, and we are sorry that theory cannot be definitely confirmed Saturday. - A A A The Metropolitan circuit is fairly familiar with most of Porterhouses rivals, but local racegoers have not, so far, caught a glimpse of Circle M Ranchs War Doings, a Porterhouse Looms Choice for Grand Union Absence of Turn-to Is Keenly Regretted Bells Luck Still Holds in Gimcrack Stakes Sundowner Is Dismissed as A Fool Horse rangy chestnut son of War Admiral, who made a marked impression on this observer at the Delaware Park meeting last month. When we congratulated trainer Frank Cat-rone on the occasion of a particularly pleasing score for War Doings, that skillful pupil of the late Sam Hildreth told us that he expected this youngster to run well in his Saratoga engagements, this strip being perfectly adapted to the colts long-striding gait, while the rather tiring going is calculated to place his game-finishing ability in relief. War Doings was still a little "green" when we saw him race and win at Delaware, but it is possible that Catrone has put the interval to good advantage. It will be interesting to see how his charge comports himself when pitted against antagonists of unquestioned class. A A News of The Pie Kings easy score in the Gimcrack Stakes at York yesterday came as no surprise to those horsemen who have been following the course of the English racing season. Ever since the Royal Ascot meeting in early July, it has been generally conceded that the Irish-bred, but American-owned, colt is the best of his age in training over there, and so this makes twice in the short space of three years that the ex-cowboy, ex-polo player, Ray Bell, has, almost by chance, accomplished a feat that has evaded so many others, despite the expenditure of prodigal sums and years of effort. The Pie King, racing in the colors of Bell and his friend, Ellwood Johnston of Los Angeles, for whom the colt was named, appears to be as promising a youngster as was Bells previous lucky acquisition, Windy City H., winner of the 51 renewal of the Gimcrack and a sensation the following January at Santa Anita. Windy City H. astonished many of us by the rapidity with which he learned our American fashion of doing things on a race track; neither the starting gate, the quick break, nor the flying dirt of our strips held any terror for this versatile, intelligent colt, whose splendid conformation, by the way, matched his perfect manners and his clever adaptability. According to Bell, who paid Saratoga a visit during the recent yearling sales, The Pie King is just such another, and he means to prove it by bringing the colt over next month, with the 00,000 Garden State at Camden as his immediate objective. AAA Sundowners irresistible attraction has escaped us all along, and we have frequently warned you in this space that J. F. McHughs young chaser was far from being a "made horse," no matter how much class he may possess. We have told you that he was difficult, or impossible, to rate, and that his fencing, if bold, was erratic, and we will now add a further condemnation to an already imposing list; Sundowner is a fool horse, and a positive danger in a field. Earlier this season, we had thought that schooling might eventually bring out his quality, but some horses cannot be taught because there is no brain there on which to make an impression. Sent to the post as odds-on choice yesterday for the featured Beverwyck Steeplechase Handicap, Sundowner rewarded his admirers with an exhibition they will not soon forget, and gave his unfortunate rider, Earl Phelps, an uncompleted trip over the infield obstacles that he will in alj probability never forget. Rank and uncontrolable, the favorite rushed right to the front, and from that time until he finally ended the agony by falling on the backstretch, Continued on Page Fifty-One WEIGHING IN By EVAN SHOPMAN Continued from Page Fifty-Six Sundowner behaved like a runaway, taking off at haphazard, going wide on the turns, completely out of hand. As for the future, we do not expect any improvement. A A. A Well to the rear of the bolting Sundowner, four other- chasers bided their time, awaiting the inevitable, but even before Sundowner stumbled going into the tenth fence, it was obvious that the favorite, had he stayed on his feet, would have wound up dead last. When Sundowner did crash, leaving poor Phelps with the wind knocked out of him, the patiently ridden quartet at once got down to the real business of the day, and now Pat Smithwicks careful placing of Mrs. C. V. Cardys Sun Shower earned the Easton gelding his second stake of the current meeting... Saving all possible ground, Smithwick kept Extra Points and His Boots, on the outside of Sun Shower between the turns and around the final bend, and he had enough in reserve to hold this pair on the flat after clearing the final obstacle. His Boots put Extra Points away in the drive, but he could never reach Sun Shower. F. Ambrose Clarks gray Ben Tally-Ho, who finished fourth and last, was not far off the others at the end, but lacked the speed to threaten them seriously, the winners time i-. this two-mile race being only a second off the -track mark. In spite of his earlier victory in the Shillelah, Sun Shower was the outsider of the small field in this Beverwyck, but he deserved his score, jumping well for Smithwick and responding instantly when called on, a performance that was altogether a pleasant contrast to that of the choice.
