Weighing In: Hurdlers Meeting in Two-Mile Jolly Roger Extra Points to Try Little Jumps Soon, Daily Racing Form, 1954-06-10

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W E I G H I N G IN BY WAN SHIPMAN BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., June 9. Now that we have come to the end of the Belmont steeplechase stake program, the hurdle horses will take over Thursday, their race not a stake but an excellent overnight handicap that brings together a talented group of eight specialists over the little fences. In this feature, named the Jolly Roger in honor of Green-trees great chaser of a generation ago, Mrs. George H. Bostwick and her sister-in-law, Mrs. Ogden Phipps, will start a strong entry in the topweight, Hyvania, and the promising young horse, Neji, recent winner here of the National Maiden Hurdle. Opposing this pah-, we find such clever performers as Montpeliers game filly, Sea Term; the imported French, horse, Templer; the gray Democles, and the veteran Eternal Sun, every one of them formidable off their best efforts. Although he must carry 143 pounds in the Jolly Roger, it is not weight that will stop .the well-bred gelding, Hyvania, a son of Belairs fine mare, Vagrancy, but where this one is concerned, a word of caution is always in order, because of his unfortunate temperament. When Hyvania chooses to extend himself, he is unquestionably one of the best hurdle horses seen hereabout in years. The trouble is that he sulks. Off French form, Templer, suited perfectly by the two-mile distance, might well be the choice, but this good-looking foreigner has had only one start here since his arrival, and may need more racing. AAA When the racing scene shifts to Aqueduct shortly, we can expect to see Col. Nelles through-the-field champion, Extra Points, in several of the more important hurdle events. Any kind of jumping race seems easy for this Hurdlers Meeting in Two-Mile Jolly Roger Extra Points to Try Little Jumps Soon All Distances Look Alike to Determine Record Unmatched by Any Three-Year-Old rejuvenated veteran, winner of the International and Corinthian steeplechases at the current meeting in style that ranks him with the best of recent years. Extra Points trainer, Mrs. Adams, tells us that she believes he would prove almost as capable in long-distance turf races on the. flat as he has over obstacles, little or big, and he may be entered in events of that sort before the close of the season. It was just last week that Victor Emmanuel, who raced an important stable of jumpers in this country and in England some 20 years ago, told us that his extremely fast fencer, Bangle, had scored in English events over the big and little fences, and also on the flat all in the space of 30 days. Old-timers in the press box agree that Extra Points has a lot in common with the former Emmanuel colorbearer. AAA On our return from Louisville early last May, we remarked that there was a pronounced tendency to belittle Determines Kentucky Derby triumph, dismissing the gallant, consistent little Californians victory as having been achieved against moderate competition. We have never shared this point of view. Determines two races in Kentucky the Derby Trial and the Derby were both brilliant efforts, and the preliminary event, in which he lost the closest kind of decision to Hasty Road, was very nearly as impressive as the Blue Grass classic itself, when he turned the tables on Hasty House Farms game son of Roman, later to prove the Preakness winner. Now returned home, and having benefited from a brief rest, Determine is back in action again, , his versatility once more very much in evidence. On his eastern foray, Andy Crevolins diminutive gray Alibhai colt was runner-up in one of the most remarkable miles of which we have record, going on to score at the Derby distance of 10 furlongs. Last Saturday, trainer Willie Molter sent him out at Hollywood Park for the seven-furlong Debonair Stakes, the result being that Determine whipped a very fast western sprinting colt named Lucky Martin in 1:22 flat, the seven-furlong worlds record in Rosebens name for many, many years. AAA As of now, Determine, in almost constant training since July of last year, has won 12 races most of them stakes from 26 starts, while he has scored at distances from five furlongs up to and including a mile and a quarter. In achieving this record, Determine has run six furlongs faster than 1:10, seven furlongs in 1:22, a mile faster than 1:36, and nine furlongs faster "than 1:49. It may be added that most of these victories Vere extremely easy, the colt not being forced out to anything like his limit. In discussing American form recently with a French horseman, we emphasized the versatility of what may be described as the American type, and little Determine fits this definition perfectly. Since Crevolins colt, by the imported Hyperion stallion, Alibhai, from a Mahmoud dam, has a pedigree that is strictly foreign, there is no reason why one like him should not turn up in England, Ireland or France. However, if a colt capable of similar feats were foaled over there, lie would, in all likelihood, never Continued on Page Thirty-Eight WEIGHING IN T By EVAN SHIPMAN Continued from Page Forty-Eight know about it, because they are just not trained at any such variety of distance. A If Determine had the luck to be owned in the East instead of on the Pacific Coast, his national reputation would, by now, be perfectly secure. In past years, certain eastern colts have accomplished a mere fraction of what the little gray has now done, and they have been hailed as champions. Eventually, we are confident that Determine will receive the praise due him, but when and if he does, it is a little ironic that it will surely be as the result of still another eastern trip. As we understand his schedule, it calls for a start against aged horses in this Saturdays rich Calif ornian; another race in the equally valuable Westerner against those of his own age on the national holidap, and then a trip to Chicago for Arlington Park engagements. If all goes well, Crevolin and Molter will then think seriously about a fall campaign here on Long Island, but it is a little premature to talk about that. In the meantime, Determine is quite simply the nations ranking three-year-old, his record far and away superior to that of any of his contemporaries.


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Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800