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Saratoga Steeplechase Handicap Tests Sun Shower, Five Other Fencers Today Winner of Beverwyck and Shillelah Ready to Whip His Boots, Montadet Again SARATOGA SPRINGS, N. Y., Aug. 26. The Saratoga Steeplechase Handicap, for four-year-olds and over with an endowment of 0,000, over the about two miles and one-half course, is the salient offering for Thursday afternoon. This event, the fourth of the better type offerings for the leppers, rounds out the stakes agenda for the department. Six were named for the. trying test which is over 16 jumps and top weight of the field is Sun Shower with 147 pounds and Pat Smithwick in the irons. The Mrs. V. G. Cardy-owned performer concedes three pounds to His Boots, owned by the Brookmeade Stable, and five to Extra Points, racing in the colors of L. H. Nelles. Banner Waves with 139 owned by G. T. Weymouth; Montadet, from the J. M. Schif f Stable, under a like assignment, and Semper Eadem, the Isidore Bieber representative with 138, complete the field. The Saratoga Steeplechase was first run in 1906 and down through the years was won by some of the best performers through the field. The continuity of the offering was broken like the other Saratoga offerings in 1911-12 but since 1913 has been a regular member of the agenda. Previous to 1910 the distance was two miles and in 1943-44-45 runnings were pontested at Belmont Park, during the second World War. The field named for tomorrow is not in keeping with some of the other years but nevertheless gives promise of a spirited contest. "Three of the starters named for the test measured strides in the Beverwyck Handicap, and the finish was Sun Shbwer, His Boots and Extra Points in that order. In the Shillelah, which was also under handicap conditions, Sun Shower was returned the winner. On the strength of those two events the Mrs. V. G. Cardy fencer, despite his increase in weight, looms up as the popular choice of the crowd. Back of him in the Shillelah were His Boots and Montadet, which is a real good line. Veteran steeplechase men frequently expressed the opinion that weight was not a severe handicap to a real good horse for the poundage steadied him in the running. Their theory will be tested tomorrow. Banner Waves is making his first appearance at the meeting, his last was in the Hitchcock at Aqueduct on July 9. He finished third in that test to His Boots and Errol-ford. The Hurricana Handicap at six furlongs is the secondary feature of the day and six were named for this. This event shapes up as something of a sop to the owners of fillies and mares who found out through trial that their chattels - were unable to negotiate the distances demanded of candidates for the Alabama. Nilufer is the top weight with 123 pounds and she is essaying to concede from nine to 14 pounds to her opposition. This is quite an effort even for a sprinter but she appears capable of so doing.
