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REFLECTIONS by nelson dunstan BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., June 4. Allie Reuben was on the telephone, talking about his horses. "I do not intend to start any of my horses in the East until the Arlington Park meeting gets under way in Chicago," he said. "We will get back to New York in the fall, but, as in former years, the Chicago tracks will be our headquarters until then. As you said in your column a day or two ago, we have never been too lucky r In New York, but, on the whole, we have no kick coming. Whether the tracks are deeper, I do not know, but we have been campaigning steadily since Florida and both Billie, my wife, and myself are pleased with the results. Hasty Road and Queen Hopeful are being pointed for the events at the Chicago tracks. While we hope to bring them to New York later, it is our purpose to preserve them for racing in the handicap ranks." The Reubens have been fortunate in having a colt and filly champion racing at the same time, but as we have said before, they select their yearlings with considerable care, analyzing the youngster both as to pedigree and conformation. The blaze-faced Hasty Road was horse enough to win the Preakness and while he will miss the Belmont Stakes, he is likely to make his presence felt in the Classic and the American Derby at Chicago. AAA With Hasty Road skipping the Belmont this is one of the years when racing will have three different winners of the "Triple Crown" events. It is possible that Hasty Road and Determine, the Kentucky Derby winner, will meet some time in Chicago. The Belmont is still to be run and should Porterhouse, or for that matter some other colt, be the winner, it will be a fine thing for fall racing if all three were to meet. But regardless of that, Hasty Road Hasty Road Out of the Belmont Stakes Preakness Winner to Await Arlington Queen Hopeful Is Also Given Respite Straight Face- Dancer Duel Awaited is a triumph of the salesring, and no credit can be taken from the Ruebens in selecting him. A son of Roman, he is out of Traffic Court, by Discovery, and is now one of the bargains of all time. Sold by the Walnut Springs Farm for 3,100, Hasty Road has now earned 94,332 and created a world record as a two-year-old winner, despite the fact that Native Dancer was a two-year-old the year before. Ben Jones of Calumet is still of the opinion that Citations earnings record of over ,000,000 will eventually be topped, and Hasty Road is one of those who might accomplish the feat. Saying that, we realize that it is futile to guess the future of any horse, but, to date, this son of Roman has been a steady campaigner. There is notelling what he will do in Chicago this summer, or, if he remains sound, what he will accumulate in the races to follow. AAA There is no telling, especially in late years, when a horse like Hasty Road will suddenly become sensational. A few months back, we were wondering about the Green-tree Stables Straight Face, a horse who has had a lot of hard luck, but who had all the potentials of a champion. Naturally, we were concentrating on Native Dancer, but when the gray champion was sent to the sidelines there came the question whether Straight Face could offset Royal Vale, the racer who gave Tom Fool such a fight in the Suburban a year ago. Straight Face came through in beautiful style and much credit for that must go to John Gaver, the quiet Greentree trainer, who has now won his fourth Suburban. George Poole, too, who has been Gavers assistant for many years, is entitled to a large share of credit for-the success of this horse. But either way, there is no gainsaying the fact that Straight Face is today one of the best horses racing on the American turf. His next start will probably be in the Brooklyn Handicop at Aqueduct on July 10 and it will be interesting to note how the veteran John B. Campbell weights the son of Count Fleet against Native Dancer, even -if the latter is not ready to run again at that time. AAA A year ago, we all looked forward to a duel between Tom Fool and Native Dancer in the Sysonby. That get-together never materialized due to the Vanderbilt champion suffering a bruised foot. Another duel could come about this year in a meeting with Straight Face. This pair met in the Metropolitan, and it is this writers opinion that the Vanderbilt horse ran the greatest race of his entire career. In that one-mile event, The Dancer was meeting one of the most superbly trainer horses we have seen in many a day, for Straight Face was coming off the Dixie Handicap and he was at what was probably the peak of his career. Native Dancer was emerging from a three-quarter sprint, but he accepted the issue as champions will. The pair are likely to meet again and. when they do, they better both be in top condition for that will be the severest test they have ever encountered. Eric Guerin has done a splendid job riding Native Dancer, and we doubt if he has ever ridden a better race than in the Metropolitan. If they do not meet in the Brooklyn, they are likely to do so in a later race, and that could be the deciding factor when voting days roll around. Native Dancer may not be asked to give the weight concessions he did in the Metropolitan.
