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: Lea Lane to Head Miss America Field Nasrullah Filly Won Only Start in Fine Style; Recalls Currents Appearance in 28 LINCOLN FIELDS, Crete, 111., June 3. The victory of Robert Sterling Clarks American-bred colt, Never Say Die, in the Derby at Epsom Downs, England, had some repercussions here at Lincoln Fields, coming as it did on the eve of closing nominations for the Miss America Stakes. This was due to reasons additional to the fact that the prospective favorite for the Miss America, the brilliant Lea Lane, is a daughter of the Derby winners sire, imported Nasrullah, now standing at Arthur B. Hancocks Claiborne Farm at Paris, Ky. Old-timers with good memories recalled here today that in 1928 Robert Sterling Clark sent his good filly, Current, to Lincoln Fields to run in the Joliet Stakes, and that she finished third to Belle of America and Port Harlem. As is well known, the Miss America Stakes for two-year-old fillies which has its seventh running here on June 12, is an off-shoot of the Joliet, now restricted to colts and geldings, but to which fillies formerly were also eligible. Current, a bay daughter of Chatterton and the imported mare, Dark Water, by Dark Ronald, was the leading filly of 1928, just as the previous Joliet winner, the Illinois-bred Anita Peabody, was the leader in 1927. In her year Anita Peabody was at the top of the entire juvenile division, colts included. Successes Following Year While she could do no better than finish , third in her Joliet effort, Current won the j Selima Stakes at Laurel and the Breeders ; Futurity ,at Lexington, Ky. In the latter she beat Fred M. Grabners Windy City by two lengths, with Clyde Van Dusen third, Dr. Freeland fourth. The following year Windy City won the American Derby, Clyde Van Dusen, the Kentucky Derby, and Dr. Freeland won ttie Preakness. Clark, who had been in racing only a short time when Current carried his colors, bought the filly from A. B. Hancock, who bred her at Claiborne. Currents sire, Chatterton, later stood for a time at the Illinois farm of the late Stuyvesant "Jack" Peabody, then president of Lincoln Fields, while Anita Peabodys sire, Luke McLuke, stood at John D. Hertz Leona Farm, at Cary, Illinois. Luke McLuke died at the Hertz farm, but Chatterton was repatriated .to Kentucky when he became the leading sire in 1932, largely through the prowess of his son, Faireno, winner of the Belmont Stakes and others. Nasrullahs brilliant daughter, Lea Lane, spectacular winner of her first and only start here at Lincoln Fields on May 27, is pointing for the Miss America as her next objective. She was bred by her owner, Charlton Clay, of Paris, Ky., brother-in-law of Mr. Hancock. When the final count is made by racing secretary L. C. Bogenschutz it is anticipated that more than 40 fillies will be in nomination for the Miss America, including the following: Emil Denemarks Future Romance, R. C. Austins Mauverneen, Fred W. Hoopers Fierce, Olympia Lou, Miss Olympia and Miss Alabama; Milton Resseguets Sweet Josie, Clifford Mooers Serry, G and G Stables Biddy Sue, sister to the 1952 Miss America winner, Biddy Jane, and other contenders for top filly honors of the year.
