Blenomar Victorious At Washington; Only Four Named for Saratoga Cup: Alerted Favorite In Distance Stake, Daily Racing Form, 1953-08-28

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Blenomar Blenomar Victorious Victorious at at Washington; Washington; Only Only Four Four Named Named for for Saratoga Saratoga Cup Cup Alerted Favorite In Distance Stake Saturdays Handicap Winner Has Bit o Fate, Mameluke And Great Captain as Rivals By BOB HORWOOD Staff Correspondent SARATOGA, Saratoga Springs, N. Y., Aug. 27. A field of four thoroughbreds have been named to dispute the seventy-third running of the 5,000 Saratoga Cup here at the Spa Friday. This is just average for this weight-for-age event at a mile and three-quarters, which has attracted even smaller fields on 11 occasions since Chance Play beat Forever and Ever and Espino in 1927, while Longfellow had only Kingfisher to beat back in 1871. Willis Sharp Kilmers memorable Exterminator made racing history when he won the Cup four years in a row, 1919 through 1922, but one of those victories was a walk-over and in another he was- opposed only by Cleopatra. Performance Depends on Mood Hampton Stables Alerted looms a short-priced choice tomorrow on the strength of his convincing triumph in Saturdays Saratoga Handicap and his many fine races last year and the year before. The son of Bull Lea, who was scoring his first victory of the year in the handicap and has sulked both morning and afternoon in recent weeks, will be opposed by Ogden Phipps Great Captain, C. V. Whitneys Mameluke and William Zieglers Bit o Fate. All four carry 126 pounds. Alerteds performance depends to a considerable extent on his mood Friday afternoon. If he consents to give his best, he should justify his favoritism, particularly as the mile and a quarter of the handicap should have benefitted him physically. No rider has been assigned as yet. Great Captain, who has been pointed for Continued on Page Forty-Four Alerted, Three Others Seeking Saratoga Cup Saturdays Handicap Winner Seen Choice at Mile and Six Furlongs Continued from Page One this event by the veteran Jim Fitzsimmons for several weeks, appears extremely dangerous. The four-year-old son of War Ad- miral strikes this viewer as a natural stayer of considerable intrinsic-value. Great Cap- tain finished four lengths behind Alerted while receiving five pounds in the Saratoga Handicap, but the additional half mile can make a vast difference. In his only other start at the Spa, Great Captain was nar-rowly beaten by Fly Wheel at a mile and a furlong, closing with a furious rush, while before that he won a mile-and-a-half event at Belmont Park from Lafourche and other moderate horses. Great Captain has never won a stake, but neither had Sabette before Mr. Fitz sent her out to win the Diana and Alabama in her last two starts here. The "Sage of " Sheepshead Bay" won the last two Cups for Mr. Phipps with Busanda, while he also won six other Cups with Diavolo, Gallant r Fox, Dark Secret, Granville and Isolater twice . Nick Wall will pilot Great Captain , tomorrow. Bit o Fate finished a length and a half before Great Captain in the Saratoga Handicap, while carrying a feathery 105 pounds. He picks up 21 more Friday and, though , he often finishes his races well, appears decidedly up against it. Mameluke has showed considerable class v on the rare occasions when he has been comparatively sound, but it will be sur- , prising if he is able to get a mile and six furlongs at this time. Syl Veitchs charge has started only once in almost a year and closed witl a rush to be third behind G. R. Petersen and Sikles Sound at a mile and a furlong on August 20. The son of Mahmoud won the Metropolitan Mile last year when fresh, but that is not quite the same as getting almost twice that distance. Claude Erickson will ride ? Mameluke.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1950s/drf1953082801/drf1953082801_1_2
Local Identifier: drf1953082801_1_2
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800